I am immensely proud to accept the honour of becoming your
President for the year 2008/2009 and am fully aware of the responsibilities I
have in following the high traditions set by my predecessors which I will do my
utmost to continue.
I would like to express my thanks to the E.I.B.A. Executive
Committee for giving me this opportunity and the Lakenheath Indoor Bowls Club
for putting my name forward and their continued support. I must also thank my
wife Carolyn for her support.
Thank you to all the Clubs and Associations that have invited me to bring a Presidential team to visit them. I look forward to these visits meeting old friends and making new ones. To all Clubs celebrating anniversaries this year, every success and may you go from strength to strength.
It would be remiss of me not to thank Peter Neighbour for putting my match program together, I do wonder how he managed this with all of the other work he does for the Association. Peter has retired as chairman of the Executive this year.
To his successor David Murley all my best wishes and I will give you all
the support I can.
Congratulations to John Clipston my Senior Deputy President and Maurice Mayes my Junior Deputy President on their election and look forward
to working with them and the rest of the Executive Committee. My thanks must also go to the immediate past President John Hornby and Alan Turvey past
President for all the help they have given me the last two years.
To Steve Rodwell and the ladies in the office my thanks for
all the work you do on behalf of the Association and for the help you have
given me.
The International Series and British Isles Championships are in Ireland in March 2009 where we will be defending the Hilton Trophy won in Scotland this year. There will be a different format this time, Ladies Internationals Series
on the first weekend then joint British Isles Championships during the week followed by the Men’s International Series the second weekend.
Last year we held joint Championships with the E.W.I.B.A.
for the first time , Northampton, Loddon Vale and Nottingham Clubs hosting
various Competitions this had a few teething problems with a clash of dates but
on the whole competitions went well and I am sure most competitors and
spectators thought it was a success. This season we have introduced an Over 60s
county competition played on 3 rinks at home and 3 rinks away to be played Monday
to Friday during the day and an Over 60 Fours with the National Winners going
to the British Isles in Ireland also played Monday to Friday.
To all of our Sponsors thank you for your continued support
of Indoor Bowls and your continued interest in the Association.
Best wishes and good health to all bowlers, to those who
enter Competitions good luck and to those of you who are successful I look
forward to meeting you at the National Finals.
