Bowling Club Seeks Funds For New Playing Surface

Published on: 10 Dec, 2021
Updated on: 9 Dec, 2021

Shalford Village Bowling Club says it is well on its way to raising £84,000 to replace its 22-year-old artificial playing surface and one of only two in Surrey.

Club chairman Anne Stokoe said: “The club and Shalford Village Hall have together raised over £50,000. We are now seeking a further £34,000 to enable us to install the new playing surface.”

The chairman of Shalford Village Bowling Club, Anne Stokoe, and the club’s event team.

At a party on December 1 members enjoyed a Christmas-themed fundraising effort, adding more than £1,100 to the appeal.

The club reports the party was declared a great success and the Guildford Waitrose store “very kindly funded the food for the occasion”.

Bowls club member Joyce Coles who liaised with Waitrose for the food at the fundraising party.

Members added donations to the project, along with raffle prizes generously donated for the cause from local village shops and businesses.

Anne said the club is a very active with around 70 members, is an asset to the village and the hall’s facilities, adding: “Catering for a predominantly older cohort, it is an excellent sporting balance to the hall’s tennis club and its three tennis courts which attracts the younger generation.”

“We know that the bowling club is important to our community. Through the enjoyment of an engaging activity, played outside throughout the year, we offer physical exercise, mental wellbeing, friendliness and support for loneliness.

“We have two members affected by Parkinson’s and those who choose to play outside following strokes, surgery and other life-affecting conditions.”

Club members enjoying themselves at the party.

The club provides competitive league matches, along with friendly fixtures and club-organised matches, and says the new playing surface will ensure the continuity of the bowling club and enable it to pursue an active programme of recruitment, coaching and training.

Contributions to the appeal from £5 to £5,000 are welcome. Contact Anne Stokoe at sec@shalfordbowlssurrey.com

There are sponsorship opportunities for interested businesses.