David Atfield’s report to the club AGM in October.
When I was elected President in 2023 a key aim was to establish, and hopefully embed, three core values into Wadebridge Bowling Club: to be welcoming, supportive and inclusive. Apart from a few sad, but perhaps inevitable, ‘bumps in the road’, I feel we’ve made real progress – not through my efforts but through yours. And this is not just my perception but, much more importantly, one echoed by numerous comments from our new members, members of other clubs and visitors.
So, thank you.
Financially and numerically we are much stronger than we were. We have also attracted some very talented bowlers from other clubs, joining us because of who we are and how we play.
Even more importantly, we’ve made real progress in both recruitment and, crucially, retention. Members new to bowling have been encouraged to play in both friendlies and league matches and have received support when stepping up to the mat. Indeed, some of these new members have already volunteered for roles in this and next season, enabling the club to plan ahead with confidence. Well done them!
However, success should not just be measured by numbers and silverware; it’s the intangibles that perhaps matter most – a welcoming atmosphere, mutual support, a sense of belonging, the feeling that you matter and, importantly, just having fun!
Hearing members, irrespective of age, gender or experience say “I’m glad I joined” suggests that we are moving in the right direction and matching what we say with what we do. As I mentioned in my May email to everyone, our club is hugely indebted to those members who volunteer to take on all sorts of roles - from Accounts to Website - and I just want to take this opportunity to thank them all.
In that email I also pointed out that if we demonstrate that Truly Everyone Always Matters we will become a TEAM.
I’m confident we do; believe we are and trust we will remain.
Having said that, we must always remember that one ill-advised comment can quickly unravel all the threads that bind a team together. We forget this at our peril....
So, a big thank you to all who do so much to ensure our club runs smoothly, particularly our retiring Secretary, Andrew. I also want to acknowledge all those who have given me support and wise counsel over the past two years – not least Mark, Pat, Barbaras B and S, Richard, George, Roger and the two Kevins J and S.
Because of you, Wadebridge Bowling Club (including our great hospitality, state of the art website and superb green) are increasingly the envy of many.
It has been my privilege to have served as your President over the past two years and I’m now handing over the baton to Eddie Jones, my worthy successor, and in the hope that 2025 will surpass all that we’ve achieved in 2024.
I will now quietly retire to the back benches – but not before letting you know that The Cove is today a magnificent £612 better off.
SO, FOR THE LAST TIME, THANK YOU ONE AND ALL!!