GENERAL SECRETARY’S REPORT TO THE 2026 AGM
I am not going to pretend that 2025 was the easiest of seasons. It was dogged by several niggling behaviour issues which we are determined to get a grip on this year – starting with a special pre-season meeting to ram home our Code of Conduct and rules to all clubs and especially their team captains.
In the midst of those complaints, made by various clubs, came the bombshell of an appeal straight over our heads to the county association. The subsequent hearing caused a lot of extra work for your League officers and a trip to Bicton on a Sunday night for the chairman and fixture secretary.
The appeal against an executive committee decision failed but the hearing’s findings has led to some of the many rule change proposals on the AGM agenda. I am hopeful that this is the last thorough rules revision we will need to undertake for quite some time!
On a more positive note when it comes to rules, we are determined as officers to follow through with the BCGBA’s five-year development plan – and we tried to get ahead of the game last spring by backing Pauline Wilson’s latest level 1 coaching course. We would like all our member clubs to have a qualified coach – and, thanks to course, which had its practical session at Shifnal, we have 5 more coaches!
As the playing season progressed we inducted 3 more new Life Members, including our last serving County President and respected junior selector Brenda Slingo, who oversaw 1 of our 2 stunning Shropshire inter-league triumphs in 2025. Veterans captain Ian Evans masterminded the other! The victorious junior team is pictured with Brenda and League President Mike Potter after the triumph at Wrockwardine Wood.
My congratulations go to first time champions Sinclair who, I am delighted to report, had a great night celebrating at our successfully re-launched presentation dinner at The Shropshire in November along with 130 other people. When it comes to that function I think we are back on track!
I salute Edgmond for winning the Best Green in Shropshire title for the second year running – it certainly made the perfect setting for our Senior Merit finals, another of our comps that enjoyed a bigger entry figure.
Apart from the men winning back the Dave Ellis Shield, the Merit finals day was the highlight of the playing year for me and I offer sincere thanks to Shropshire Vertidrain & Turf Services Ltd for their continued backing, as well as huge thanks to long-time main League sponsors Molson Coors.
Thanks are also due to Phil Owen. His diligent research has helped us fill in many of the infuriating gaps in our Honours Board – and we now have a comprehensive list of officers who have served the League since 1932 which will soon be on the website.
Looking ahead, the early signs for the season are positive with applications already received from 3 new teams. We have a potential new chairman-in-waiting and a new big-name junior selector to nominate to help Brenda.
But we will need to appoint a new disciplinary panel chairman as Colin Rudrum wishes to stand down. He chaired 1 hearing in 9 years but was always ready to serve, so thank you Colin.
A couple of clubs have already made a start on reviewing their constitutions in line with the BCGBA development guidelines and a new strategy for clubs with juniors is on the way And boy is it needed with the boom in under-18 open competitions this year, many of them organised by Rob!
And finally, to end on a sad personal note, it would be remiss of me not to pay tribute to the man who has been a guiding light by my right hand for more than a decade, becoming a much valued and trusted friend.
Sean Round has served the League and its member clubs as chairman for 14 proud years with a confidence that blossomed in the wake of Covid. He had a mighty tough act to follow in Dennis Lewis.
But Sean’s positivity, approachability, enduring fairness and desire to keep helping drive bowls in Mid Shropshire forward has earned the respect of everyone.
It’s a real measure of the man that Sean has, thankfully, had a hand in talking to his potential successor to tell him what to expect.
That fact alone tells you all you need to know about his commitment to the League. Sean, I salute you!
Malcolm Fletcher