The League is eager to ensure that two highly respected figures of Mid Shropshire, Shropshire and even British crown green bowling – both recently passed Life Members – get the send off they so richly deserve.

Officers are hoping that the celebration of the life of John Hughes and the funeral of Barry Griffiths will both be well attended by bowlers as a mark of respect for all they have done for the sport.

A celebration of John’s life will be held at Admaston Methodist Church on Saturday 27^th April at 11.30am, the Admaston resident having served for years as a former Mid Shropshire competition secretary, county treasurer and junior selector.

The funeral of Barry has been arranged for Tuesday 7th May at 1.30pm at his beloved St Georges Church, followed by a cremation service for those that would like to attend.

“With dedicating all his years to both the church and St Georges Bowling Club, it would be lovely to see as many people there who had fond memories of my dad,” said his daughter Natalie Teece.

Barry was assistant secretary of the BCGBA for many years and was made a life member of the association and then the League (in 2017) for his superb service.

More sad news has reached the League just before the start of the new season in divisions 1-2-3 tomorrow.

John Hughes, the former Mid Shropshire competition secretary up until the 1990s, passed away in the early hours of Monday 15^th April in Telford Hospital.

He also served the League as a junior selector and, in more recent years, helped current officers reinforce their ties with long-term main sponsors Molson Coors.

Having bowled for Sir John Bayley and Hadley USC, his last administrative roles were as a Shropshire junior selector and a spell as county treasurer, being succeeded by the late Brian Kitson.

John was honoured for his services to both the sport and the League when he was made a Life Member of the MSBL in 2018.

His lost his first wife and fellow bowls lover, Liz, but got married again to Joyce and together they enjoyed travelling to various parts of the world

A celebration of John’s life will be held at Admaston Methodist Church on Saturday 27^th April at 11.30am.

RIP John – will be sadly missed, but never forgotten…

It is with much sadness that I write to inform the League’s bowlers and followers of the sad passing of Barry Griffiths.

A stalwart of the St Georges club, Barry passed away on Thursday 11th April at the Severn Hospice.

He was assistant secretary of the BCGBA for many years and was made a life member of the association for his efforts. The same honour was bestowed on him by the MSBL in 2017.

St Georges secretary Ian Gaut said: “He had been unwell for some time and passed away in the early hours of Thursday.

“Barry was a good man and St Georges through and through.

“He worked tirelessly on behalf of the club, SCGBA, BCGBA and the Mid Shropshire League.

“Our heartfelt commiserations go out to all his family and friends.”

A packed programme of action in the Monday divisions – 4, 5 and 6 – starts tonight (8^th April) with four new sides in a 13-strong sixth division.

Newport D were Monday evening champions last year and must be among the favourites to take the title again in 2024.

Meanwhile, delegates at the League’s April meeting heard there was a new progressive vibe surrounding the sport’s governing the body this year.

Positive news from first meeting of new-look BCGBA management was reported with a much improved feel at the meeting.

A new CEO & National Administrator are in place and the new Board launched with county chairman Phil Scott one of 5 regional reps. They want total transparency and are eager to cater for the 85,000 grassroots bowlers – not just the 2,000 elite players.

Closer to home, on the SCGBA front, no successor to County Development Officer Pauline Wilson has been found so the county executive has agreed to split role into 2 by creating a new coaching post, with an honoraria.

And the executive voted that anyone taking the referees exam should have the fee paid – on the proviso that they at least commit to officiate at local league level.

Sponsorship news was encouraging, including £300 from Dennis UK for the Shropshire Best Kept Green comp. Deadline for entries will be 30th June, with local judging in July and then August for the finalists. Trnech won this cdrown last year.

Another county-organised greenkeepers day is set to be held at the end of the season and will concentrate on winter maintenance work.

 MSBL COMPETITIONS LOOMING

Dixon and Driscoll Doubles– Sunday 28th April at 10am at Allscott Heath – £10 entry fee, enter on the day.

Under 25 Merit– Wednesday 8th May at Donnington Wood at 630pm – £5 entry fee, entries by end of Saturday 4th May.

Over 60s Merit – Saturday 18th May at 2pm at Sir John Bayley (bottom green) – £3 entry fee, enter on the day.

ROUND-UP FROM THE APRIL MEETING:

The League’s Saturday Division has lift-off again!

Seven teams will play matches of 4 singles and 2 doubles starting at 2pm in June.

The division has been in cold storage since the 2019 campaign due to the pandemic and officers will now try and recruit an 8^th team so there are no byes in the fixture programme.

Changes to the seasonal info reported from Highley, Shifnal & St Georges have been updated on the Club Contacts section of the site.

Albrighton have made a generous gesture in the countdown to host the League’s Junior Day competitions on Saturday 22^nd June. Club secretary and MSBL vice-chairma Steve Wall said: “As an incentive for people to enter, we will be offering on the day, to all competitors, free Burgers, Hot Dogs, and canned drinks. Alas spectators will be asked to pay. We hope that this offer will make the day a little more special in the hope to seeing as many junior bowlers as possible. “

New £100 per annum backing from June Lewis of the Thursday Merit announced, but the sponsorship deal with Local Print Pros has been terminated.

Scorecards will cost clubs £15 per 1,000 and £2 for each Captains Book. The amount owed will be added to their end of season account.

Thanks to changes to the Shropshire inter-league rules, meaning both the seniors and veterans championships will be 6-a-side this year, the League hopes to field 2 teams in both in 2024. The set dates are:

Veterans (6-a-side) on Saturday 15^th June in North Shropshire

Seniors (6-a-side) on Saturday 31^st August in Shrewsbury

Juniors (6-a-side) either 9th June or 14^th July) in Mid Shropshire

COMPETITIONS LOOMING

Dixon and Driscoll Doubles– Sunday 28th April at 10am at Allscott Heath – £10 entry fee, enter on the day.

Under 25 Merit– Wednesday 8th May at Donnington Wood at 630pm – £5 entry fee, entries by end of Saturday 4th May.

Over 60s Merit – Saturday 18th May at 2pm at Sir John Bayley (bottom green) – £3 entry fee, enter on the day.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING:

July Executive on Tuesday the 2nd at the Bayley (7.30pm)

It may not be an executive meeting, but the League’s April gathering on Tuesday the 2^nd is vital for many reasons – including collection of scorecards, captains books and BCGBA handbooks!

And they will be needed soon as the first fixtures of the season are on Thursday in the Afternoon Division and the Dennis Lewis Division.

The April meeting is open to all new team captains and club officials to attend the meeting, when they will have the chance to ask officers questions.

Given the number of rule changes made at this year’s AGM, including the League’s use of the Mike Beckett results system, it might be wise if as many captains attend as possible!

A last gasp application from Shifnal means that the re-launch of the Saturday Division, with matches of four singles and two doubles starting at 2pm, looks set to go ahead – a final decision will be made at the meeting.

The division has been in cold storage since the 2019 campaign due to the pandemic and officers had set a target of a minimum of six teams to see it resume.

AGENDA for the April Management meeting on Tuesday 2nd April at Sir John Bayley Club at 7.30pm:

1  Chairman’s remarks to open the meeting

2  Apologies & In Memoria

3  Minutes of the March Executive Committee Meeting

4  Matters arising

5  General Secretary’s report

6  Correspondence

7  Treasurer’s report

8  Competition Secretary’s report – confirmation of dates for 2024

9  Fixture Secretary’s report

10 Saturday Division – to be, or not to be?

11 Questions to the League officers – for new team captains, club secretaries/delegates

12 Dave Ellis ladies v gents venue for 2024 – Weds 2^nd October?

13 Life Members for 2024

14 County matters – report of executive meeting on March 11th

15 Any Other Business

16 President / chairman to close the meeting

COMPETITIONS LOOMING – Dixon and Driscoll Doubles– Sunday 28^th April at 10am at Allscott Heath – £10 entry fee, enter on the day.

Under 25 Merit– Wednesday 8^th May at Donnington Wood at 630pm – £5 entry fee, entries by end of Saturday 4^th May.

Over 60s Merit – Saturday 18th May at 2pm at Sir John Bayley (bottom green) – £3 entry fee, enter on the day.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING: July Executive on Tuesday the 2^nd at the Bayley (7.30pm)

There’s less than a week to go before the first League fixtures of the new 2024 season.

But, before then, the League’s officers would like to wish all of its bowlers, friends and clubs a happy, healthy and peaceful Easter.

The new campaign opens with first matches in the Afternoon Division and the Dennis Lewis Division taking place on Thursday 4^th April.

In the afternoon reigning champions Donnington Wood entertain divisional newcomers St Georges in a 6-a-side match while in the evening it is Sinclair who have the tough task of heading to Shrewsbury to take on 2023 title winners Castlefields in the 8-a-side division with its unique points scoring system.

Action in the main Friday divisions starts on 19^th April while Monday night sides return to action on 8^th April.

And League chiefs are still hoping to re-launch the Saturday Division this season with matches of 4 singles-2 doubles that mean a minimum of just 4 bowlers is required to fulfil fixtures that start at 2pm.

This division has been in cold storage since the 2019 campaign due to the pandemic, but already 6 potential teams from 5 clubs – Allscott Heath, Charlton, Donnington Wood, Wrockwardine Wood and Worfield – have expressed an interest.

A final decision will be made at the League’s April meeting on Tuesday the 2^nd.

It’s Saturday and the afternoons will be soon be a lot warmer . . . and YOU could be playing bowls in a unique division the League is hoping to re-boot in 2024.

Matches in the Saturday Division are four singles-two doubles and that means that a minimum of just 4 bowlers is required to fulfil fixtures that start at 2pm.

This division has been in cold storage since the 2019 campaign due to the pandemic, but already 6 potential teams from 5 clubs – Allscott Heath, Charlton, Donnington Wood, Wrockwardine Wood and Worfield – have expressed an interest in re-launching it.

Now the big questions for League officers are can we get to 8 teams? And will we have lift-off again come May?

The divisional rules are already in place – and available to see on this site under Admin and the League Rules – and a final decision on whether the division gets re-born will be made at the League’s April meeting on Tuesday the 2^nd.

So if you have enough bowlers at your club interested in some Saturday afternoon action, please contact your club secretary and get them to express an interest to either fixture secretary John Palmer or general secretary Malcolm Fletcher.

Now that the League’s fixtures have gone live, the finalised 2024 Competition and Team KO dates are now available on this website.

They have been emailed to the secretaries of all 27 member clubs with entry deadlines and fees, plus venues if known at this stage.

Ahead of the start of the new playing season, all bowlers interested in learning about the rules of the game are encouraged to attend a special free seminar.

David Williams, the chief of the British Crown Green Referees Society, will be the man in the spotlight on Tuesday, 26th March, starting at 7pm at Tilstock BC, near Whitchurch (SY13 3JL).

Delighted Shropshire Referees Society secretary Louise Cotton said: “This is a great opportunity for club captains, officials and those interested in being a referee to update their knowledge and ask questions from the expert.”

 “It’s aimed at those wishing to continue to sit their referee exams or for club officials/captains that would like the opportunity to refresh their current knowledge.

“David is an expert who will help people to understand the correct rules and provide greater confidence when you have rule issues during a league game.

“This is likely to be a popular event so to ensure we are aware of numbers expected, please can you let myself ([email protected]) know the names of those attending and which bowling club they are representing by March 21.”

Looking further ahead to the League’s April meeting, the plan at this stage is to open the meeting to all team captains to take them through all the new rules passed at the AGM in January.

We are ready to roll! The fixtures for the 2024 season are now LIVE on the website.

And the finalised competition and team knockout dates, entry fees and venues if already known, will be posted by organiser Rob Burroughs today on the relative pages.

The Club Contacts for 2024 are now Live too! And big thanks go to webmaster Steve Wall for that.

Rob and hard working fixture secretary John Palmer have worked methodically for the last 5 days to formulate as fair a programme as possible, and with as few clashes as possible too.

The last push now for League officials is to try and recruit at least two more teams so that 4 singles-2 doubles Saturday Division can be re-launched.

There’s already 4 clubs expressing an interest and a final decision will not be made until the April meeting.

“We are looking for a minimum of 6 teams to compete and I feel we have a bit more time with regards to a potential Saturday Division as fixtures won’t have to start until May,” said general secretary Malcolm Fletcher.