After a year’s negotiation, Rye Bowls Club (RBC) have been granted control of their club, on the Salts. After withdrawing all funding for the club at the end of 2024, Rother District Council (RDC) offered the club the opportunity to finance and run the club themselves.
This presented the then 20 members with a big challenge and it looked as if, after more than 43 years, the club would fold. However, a handful of members were convinced that they could rescue the club and engaged in negotiations that have resulted in them being granted control of the green and clubhouse.
A new committee was formed and their first objective, in 2024, was to build the membership and to gather supporters. By the end of last year there was a notable increase in members who had signed up, either as players or supporters. Since December 2024, the dedicated core members have maintained the club, and are currently working through their first full, independent season.
Running the club has involved a massive learning curve, especially for the maintenance team, led by Ray Palmer. He and his small team of workers have kept the green looking brilliant, and a great playing surface for this year’s matches. The club had to literally start from scratch, buying all of the equipment required to maintain the green, especially the precision mower.
With a new committee and a fresh start, came a change in philosophy for the club. It now wants to be more prominent in the Rye district, being involved in wider community activities and more inclusive. To this end they have already created links with Rye Mobility Awareness group, hosting the ‘finish and refreshments’ on the mobility awareness day in April and showcasing the vast improvements in the accessibility of the club. The club have also begun preparing the small green adjacent to the clubhouse, to be used for anyone with mobility issues, as it has wheelchair access. They also acquired funding for some mobility aids and purchased smaller, lighter bowls, and are opening up this great facility, on open days and taster days to begin with. The club has long supported our Fire Brigade with an annual fundraiser, raising funds for the club and the Fire Brigade Benevolent Fund, (last year each received £300), and this will be held on August 10 this year. Plans are being made to attract younger players to the game and to extend the opportunities to open up bowling sessions to the general public, groups visiting Rye and overseas visitors, once the club has adjusted to self management of the club.
One of the most positive moves has been the number of new members, who only recently joined, who have improved their skills and progressed from not only attending practise sessions, to playing in match games and vastly improving their confidence, and in some cases health. The number of full members currently stands at 33 (and new members are still welcome, even though we are well into the season). Social membership was introduced this season and these members can attend events, and also ‘pay-as you-go’ on any of the practise mornings (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) or Tuesday evening, which does suit working members. The social membership now stands at 24 and these members are the ones leading the ideas for the social events to be held at the clubhouse. The first to take place was a fish and chip supper and already booked in, is a bingo night. Other ideas suggested include a games night, quiz, race night and more.
We have had some great support from the community and local businesses and we have been fortunate enough, recently, to add Skinners of Rye to our list of sponsors and everyone at the RBC is very thankful to them all. The support from local people and organisations has been incredible.
In addition to making the Bowls Club more inclusive, we are very keen to be more community based, allowing other groups / organisations to use the clubhouse facilities, for a small fee, and also host some additional free taster events through the summer, to allow as many people as possible to ‘just have a go’. One such group to start at the club is the Mantuary, a drop-in Tuesday morning group, for men of all ages. Led by Ray Palmer, the group gather at the clubhouse, chat, play cards, games or even bowls if the weather is good. This is year round group.
No one knows what the future holds, but all being well this year the club does plan to opt to take up a longer lease with RDC. This will need continued support from our community and lots of new members would be a bonus. As a club one of our aims is to be more community led and focused and of course to regain our position as one of the top clubs in the Mermaid league – go Rye.
Follow us on Facebook for our monthly fixtures, come along and support your local club matches (in particular our Rye Tournament on July 26) and please join us on one of our free taster sessions.
Contact details for more information: through Facebook messenger, by email at ryebowlsclub1@gmail.com, or phone 07518172339
Image Credits: KT Bruce , Kt bruce .