Sutton Bowls Club has a proud record dating back 80 years. The Men’s Outdoor Club was formed in 1928 with a six-rink outdoor green at Ventnor Road in Central Sutton, Surrey. Sutton Ladies Outdoor Club was formed in 1975.

The bowls club moved from Ventnor Road to its present extensive landscaped site in Dorset Road, Belmont in 1982. Facilities were expanded to include two six-rink outdoor greens and a club house housing a six-rink indoor green, restaurant, bar and changing rooms. There is ample car parking with allocated spaces for disabled and wheelchair bowlers.

There has been a continuous programme of developments and improvements for bowlers and social members since 1982. These have included improving the indoor playing facilities with a purpose-made bowling floor: improved lighting and ventilation: providing raised platforms to improve the viewing area for indoor bowling: extending the dining room and bar lounge: enlarging the ladies’ changing room, including installing additional toilets; creating new enlarged meeting and storage rooms and installing facilities for disabled bowlers.

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT SUBMITTED WITH THE AUDITED ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDING 30 APRIL 2008

Finance For the first time in some years we can report a profit that will start to rebuild our reserves. However, the profit after tax of £23,874 needs to be taken with care as there is a number of one off items that cannot be relied upon next year. For example, £5,000 is VAT non-reclaimable reserve which was not required this year. We have written back £3,350 from unredeemed Bonds, and have also received some sundry donations.

The figure we should be safely looking at is more in the order of £15,000, but we should be happy that the full £23,874 will be put into our reserves. Bonds that expired in the year, to the value of £5,850, have been paid out, and that sum has been transferred back from the sinking fund. A balance of £13,150 remains in the sinking fund and is sufficient to repay all of the outstanding loans.

The improved profit this year is largely due to reduced expenditure to the value of £16,805. The main area’s for this are light and heating, due to negotiated fixed contracts, reduced costs for repairs and maintenance due to the vast amount of work carried out by a dedicated team of volunteers which has saved money with not having to bring outside contractors in to carry out work. Additionally, we did not incur any VAT charges this year as we were able to remain within the de-minimus limits set by HM Revenue & customs. And, last but certainly not least, we must thank the bowling and social committees for the various donations made to the accounts throughout the year, particularly the £1,000 received from the Ladies Indoor Committee.

Membership - Indoor – men 340, ladies 267, juniors 13. Total indoor members 620. Outdoor – men 117, ladies 91, juniors 1. Total outdoor 209. Social members 70.

The President - Jean Watson took over from Charles Radley as President of the Club on the 20^th August 2007 and has a successful inaugural year in office.

Committees - The Board would like to thank the four bowling committees and the social committee for all their work throughout the year. These committees are the main operating arm of the Club and as such deserve, and need, members to support all their various activities.

The Board - Each year two Board members retire by rotation but are eligible to stand for re-election should they so desire. This year, Roy Jones and Neil Asten will be retiring after serving two of the three years they were elected on to the Board. Roy and Neil are standing for re-election. Anne Singleton who has been a Board Director for the past nine years is standing down as Director at the AGM. The Board expresses its thanks to Anne for all the work she has put in over what has been a challenging time for the Club. Brian Clark who was elected onto the Board at the last AGM tendered his resignation as Director in June and again the Board thanks him for his support.

Company Secretary - Pat Wills has done a sterling job in her first full year as Company Secretary which is not an easy job as there are always old and new tasks which need addressing.

Conclusion - A lot of people have put a lot of time in to ensure that the Club runs as smoothly and cost effectively as possible. Sincere thanks must go to the office, bar, cleaning staff and green keeper, and particularly to our dedicated group of volunteers who have worked so hard during the year doing all the odd jobs others couldn’t, or wouldn’t do. Unfortunately, both indoor and outdoor bowling clubs are finding it difficult to attract and retain members, and of utmost importance balance their books. It’s not an easy job. Financially, we’ve had a successful year. But we must not be complacent. There is much more work to be done if we are to operate efficiently and cost effectively to ensure that Sutton retains its position as one of the leading bowling clubs, not only in the county but in the country.