We are organising a Fun Day on Sunday 30th August starting at 2:00pm which incorporates the annual Vera and Cliff Cup day. Vera and Cliff Punchard were long time members of the club and we have a cup in their memory which is normally played for between Caister BC and Martham BC but not this year.

Teams will be selected with a mix of experienced and newer members playing together. Newer members can learn from experienced members who in turn can meet members they might not know. Members can also bring spouses and partners who are interested in trying bowls. Places are capped at 36 so add your name to the list outside the clubhouse door, reply to this email or contact Darren. No dress code, it’s a fun day, but flat shoes only.

The bar will be open and Gary will be running the barbecue.

Please come along and support the event as the bowling season starts to wind down for the year.

The club hosted the Caister BC Aussie Pairs Open Tournament on Saturday 25th July. Teams from around the area and as far away as Kings Lynn competed, in at times hot conditions, for the first prize.

The winners on 27 points were Steve Mercer and Phil Ellis from Bradwell BC who picked up the first prize of £140. Two points behind and in second place were club members Jane Cockrill and Darren Stamp who took home £80. In third place was club member Ken Scott Greenard and his team mate Alan Jones from Martham BC who shared £40.

Club members worked hard to present a good tournament with a good selection of cold food and drinks played on a well tendered bowling green.

At Caister we have a fantastic green and facilities, it would be great to join together to support the club and use the club house more.

Most of us only get to socialise with the team members we play with, so we are trying to promote social events at the club which I hope you may support, such as quiz nights, live music nights, fun and games nights, Medium nights and horse racing nights etc.

All events will be advertised on our Facebook site, the Caister Bowls website, plus posters will be put up on the notice board in the club house with a list to put your name down if you wish to attend.

We are a friendly club, so why not put your name down for some of the functions and enjoy a night out with friends and other members.

You never know, you might enjoy yourself while supporting the club at the same time.
Stay well and enjoy your season, I hope your bowls don’t go straight.

Regards
Philip Barber
Club President

Running a bowls club is about far more than the game itself.  Here’s an insight into our spending that has been made so far this season, covering the eight months from 1st October 2025 to the end of May 2026, with four months still to go. So where does the money go, it might be an eye opener for you.

The green: our biggest cost — £4,533

The bowling green is the heart of the club, and maintaining it to a high standard doesn’t come cheap. This figure covers everything from mower maintenance and repairs, to specialist supplies and treatments from Willimotts, bird scarers to keep our feathered friends from causing havoc, and mower fuel. Every pound spent here goes directly into the surface you play on, and we’re proud of the standard we maintain. 

Utilities and premises: keeping the lights on — £1,911
From the moment you walk through the gate to the time you leave, the club is spending money for the benefit of our members. Our utility bills covering electricity, water and WiFi sit alongside our rent, brown bin collections for grass cuttings, bank charges, our website, and our registration with the Information Commissioner’s Office (a legal requirement for any organisation holding member data). It all adds up.

Administration and general items — £1,513
Keeping the club running as an organisation takes more than most people realise. This category covers a wide range of day-to-day costs, from stationery and equipment to general items that keep things running smoothly throughout the season. We paid for our Safeguarding office to be certificated, having our fire extinguishers and electrical tools tested. We need to pay for an entertainment licence and you might be surprised at the cost of the blue paper towels in the toilets.

County and league affiliations — £1,244
To compete at county level and in our local leagues, the club must be properly registered and affiliated. This cost covers all the necessary registrations for our competitive players, ensuring everyone is eligible to play in organised fixtures, including our leagues, county competitions. The bowls authorities like their slice of the cake and charge us for you to play.

The bigger picture
So far this season, the club has spent £9,201 across these four areas, and we still have four months of the season ahead of us. The truth is that membership fees and match fees alone are not enough to cover the cost of running the club. Income from bar sales, raffles, quiz nights, entertainment evenings and special events all play a vital role in making sure the books balance.

But money only tells part of the story. Caister Bowls Club would simply not be viable without the countless hours that our committee members, green team and bar staff voluntarily give throughout the year. From preparing the green before you play to organising events, handling administration, shopping, stopping you getting thirsty and keeping everything running behind the scenes, their contribution is quite simply irreplaceable. We owe them thanks for what they do.

Every time you buy a raffle ticket, prop up the bar, join a roll-up or take part in a quiz night, you’re directly helping to fund the green you love to play on. Thank you to everyone, volunteers (more always needed) and members alike, for making Caister Bowls Club what it is. 

Here’s another quiz night for your diary. Philip and Jane will be running a quiz night on Saturday 1st August. A list will be by the clubhouse door to reserve your spot or make contact by calling the numbers on the poster.