A Letter from our Treasurer
Over the past two years, St Botolph’s & District Bowls Club has embarked on an ambitious programme of upgrading its premises and bowls green.
The Club, founded in 1977 had 20 original members, and six of those invested £100 each to purchase land and an old prefabricated building as a club house. Many members of the new club gave of their time freely and eventually opened on June 1981.
Over the years, improvements were made as funds allowed until 2000 when it became clear the green needed to be renewed. This was done with the help of the National Lottery and others.
In 2014 it became apparent that the Club floor was becoming unsafe, after all it was over 40 years old, and it was decided to replace the floor and carpet. This was completed in early 2015 at a cost of £3,500 using our own volunteer labour and financed entirely from our own funds.
For some time we had been aware that the 15 year old mower was reaching the end of its life and that a new one would help enhance the playing surface. At the same time, we recognised that the clubhouse needed an upgrade to improve heating, lighting and become more energy efficient and comfortable as a key asset to the local community.
Of course, a project of circa £16,000 was beyond our financial means but over time grants were received from a number of sources. Again, a small group of members worked tirelessly, without cost to complete the work before the 2016 season.
Grants from Mid Suffolk /Babergh District Council, were supplemented by support from Suffolk County Council Locality, Community Foundation and Green funds. The Alfred Williams Charitable Trust and the Parishes of Botesdale, Redgrave and Rickinghall also provided financial support. We thank everyone who has helped us achieve our aims.
Now this work is complete, we wish to expand our activities on and off the bowls green. We now have a bowling green to be proud of and look forward to its greater use in representative events and the enhancement of bowls in this area. We also have a modern clubhouse with excellent facilities that we hope will become a focal point for activities of all kinds in the future and for the wider public.
Clive Foskett - Treasurer
May 2016