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Congratulations go to Thorncliffe Ladies for not only reaching the final of the Horton Cup Ladies Doubles, but for winning the trophy yet again. They powered to a comprehensive 100 -67 win over Crookes Ladies at Wadsley House, playing well in appalling weather conditions.

Team Captain, Jane Norman, paid tribute to the whole team, and thanked the green keeper at Wadsley House for preparing the green so well in such adverse weather conditions.





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This article, on 30 Aug 2011 by Christopher Hope, Whitehall Editor of the Daily Telegraph, makes interesting reading.

Ministers are to give local clubs new “right to buy” powers so they can acquire spare land in their communities and turn it into new greens. Existing greens will also be protected.
Eric Pickles, the Communities Secretary, said he wanted to preserve the sport’s place as “part of England’s sporting and cultural heritage”. An estimated 400,000 people are regular players of the outdoor game. However, the greens are vulnerable to being concreted over to make space for car parks or houses, or closed because councils cannot afford to pay for their upkeep. Experts have said that large numbers have closed in recent years. An estimated 15 of the 27 publicly owned greens in Plymouth, including one played on by Drake, are under threat. Similar threats to lawns have been reported in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, Formby, near Liverpool, Manchester, Edinburgh and parts of Birmingham.

Mr Pickles said: “Bowling is one of the nation’s most popular pastimes and the bowling green has long been part of the fabric of our towns and villages. “The new powers we are proposing can help to preserve this part of England’s sporting and cultural heritage for years to come.”

The National Planning Policy Framework, which is out for consultation, includes a new local green spaces designation. Communities will be able to identify green spaces, such as bowling greens, for special treatment within new neighbourhood proposals. The plans, which are subject to a community vote, once agreed would go on to form part of the local planning policy. The new protections are reinforced by a new Community Right to Buy which gives groups powers to bid for bowling greens if they face being sold off.

Mr Pickles said he recognised that bowlers were “frustrated by a sense of powerlessness to stop treasured assets and amenities disappearing. “The rights we are putting into law will make sure that local people no longer have to stand by as decisions are made beyond their control. “They will be on a much surer footing when it comes getting heard and getting the time and 'in’ they need to determine what happens in their area.”

Other powers in the Localism Bill include measures to “stop the clock” on any proposed sale, giving local bowlers the time they need to raise money. Bowls England, the sport’s governing body, estimates that when a bowling green closes, 40 per cent of the club’s members give up the sport for good. Tony Allcock, the chief executive of Bowls England, took part in a lobby of Parliament for more protection for bowling greens last month. He said: “They are a community within themselves. We need them preserved.”

This year John Woodcock, the Labour MP for Barrow-in-Furness, introduced a Private Members’ Bill calling for more protections for bowling greens. He told MPs: “Bowlers just want to stand on their own two feet - they say they can maintain the greens themselves if the council hands them over for peppercorn rent. “No one in England is more than 15 miles from the cry of 'jack high’. That is one of the many things that, for centuries, has made this country so great. We should endeavour to ensure it remains the case for centuries to come.

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It may have been a surprise to the player concerned, but to his bowling colleagues it was no surprise to learn that Jack Bunting was selected to play for the South Yorkshire County Juniors against North Staffordshire away on Sunday 21st August.

Jack is in only his third season playing for Thorncliffe, and said I'm pleased and a little nervous to have been selected, and I would like to thank David Searle for his encouragement."

The Club extends its congratulations to Jack and wishes him well for the future, and understands that South Yorkshire have confirmed his selection for the 2012 season.

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The Northern Community Assembly is holding ‘You Choose’ events across the area. A 'You Choose' event is where community groups bid for funding and the public votes on which projects the council funds.

Thorncliffe Bowling Club lies in the West Ecclesfield Ward and the first You Choose Event was back in February 2010 at the High Green Miners' Welfare Hall. The Club, led by Dennis Anderson, successfully bid for £2,000, centred around Healthy Living and Supporting the Community.

The second event took place on Tuesday, 9 November 2010, at Grenoside School, Norfolk Hill, Grenoside. Dennis once again was the leader our bid. However, because of our previous success, this time around our bid was limited to £500.

The third event took place on Saturday, 25 June 2011 back at the High Green Miners' Welfare Hall. Again Dennis led the bid, assisted by Glyn Jenkinson, centered around purchasing bowls and equipment for juniors.

The decisions on grants were made at the You Choose event. Funding will be paid to successful groups in the 2011/12 financial year. Thorncliffe came second in the voting and so were awarded their bid of £2,000.

Dennis said " I would like to thank all those people who came along and supported us."

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The other day I was at the green when one of the members (who asked not to be identified) asked me "Do you believe in fairies?"
I quickly checked that he had not just been over to the Pavilion (membership forms in the bowls hut) for alcoholic refreshment. I played it cool and asked "Why, what have they done?"

"Well," he replied, "every time I come to play bowls I'm always struck by how clean the hut is, and that all the refreshments, milk, tea, coffee, etc are always stocked. And more, importantly, the toilets are regularly cleaned"

I had to tell him gently that cleaning the hut, stocking the provisions - and yes, even cleaning the men's toilets are not, as far as I know, achieved by fairies, but by the dedication of a band of (lady) volunteers led by Sue Smith.

He was amazed and suggested that the club should extend their thanks to the ladies, but he couldn't understand why the men didn't seem to play their part.

So, THANK YOU, Ladies - and are there any men out there brave enough to tackle the men's toilets? - or would that really be a fairy tale?!

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Sunday 10th April dawned clear and sunny, with more than 50 members ready and waiting to welcome new members and those trying bowls for the first time.

Membership Secretary, John De Cann, said "It's been a very rewarding day, with five potential new members for the club." Chairman Ian Hague thanked all who had contributed to making the the event such a success, in particular the unsung heroes in the Bowling Hut manning the register (Dennis and John), the raffle (Mo), and June and Jean (refreshments).

Secretary Graham Elliott having sampled all the delicious cakes (does his wife Sarah know about this?) also thanked everyone that had made the day so enjoyable. He said "The weather was helpful, but the greens and surrounding areas looked very nice and it was good to see everyone so cheerful and looking forward to the new season. We made over £70 on the cakes and refreshments (special thanks to the cake makers!) and over £100 on the raffle."

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Thanks to the funding received from the South Yorkshire Community Foundation and Biffaward, and some hard work from members both shelters are now ready and resplendent on the Upper green.

Funding Co-ordinator for Thorncliffe Bowling Club, Dennis Anderson, said "We have to say a big thank you to both Biffaward and the South Yorkshire Community Foundation for supporting the club and the community in this way. We are quite certain, given the English weather, that they will see a lot of use over the coming seasons!"

















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The Scurrah Wainwright Charity takes its name from Henry Scurrah Wainwright OBE (1877-1968) who was a Leeds chartered accountant and social reformer. He was also instrumental in founding and building up the Leeds medical company, Chas F Thackray Ltd, whose sale in 1990 led to the founding of the Charity.


Today Dennis Anderson has received a cheque for £400 from the Scurrah Wainwright Trust to be spent on gardening equipment and plants for lanscaping around the greens.

Dennis said "We are really pleased to have received this money, as obtaining funding in the current economic climate has become more difficult".

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The decision by Sheffield City Council, on 3rd March, to increase the charges for bowling in Sheffield Parks for 2011 has led many bowling clubs to urgently assess their financial position, and to consider at what level the price of membership should be set. The council expects all club members to either pay £45 for a season ticket / Passport, or pay as they play at £2.25 per hour. This new season ticket will entitle holders to play as often as they wish on any park bowling green during the playing season.

Following a recent Extraordinary General Meeting Thorncliffe Bowling Club have announced that membership fees for 2011 will be set at £65 for Adults (inclusive of the £45 passport) and £20 for Juniors (inclusive of the £15 junior passport). Adult social membership will be £50 (inclusive of the £45 passport).

Secretary, Graham Elliott, said "This decision has been made to minimise the impact of the council's increased charges in the hope that all existing members will still be able to play. We have tried to accommodate everyone's needs, however when the council wants £45 from each member we do not have much leeway. However this does still represent good value."

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