It seems so long ago now but as previously communicated we raised £700 for the Palliative Care Unit at our music night and race night we held at the back end of last year and early this year. Obviously with lockdown and hospital being off limits for general visitors we couldn’t have the opportunity to present the cheque in person, so we had no choice but to post this off and hope that the funds were put to good use in these troubled times. Basically we said to the unit that they should use it to whatever use they though best at the time. Communication has been ongoing between ourselves and the unit but has been slow due to obvious reasons. We’ve had the following letters a little while now but as a lot of members are still shielding or haven’t been able to use the club yet we thought that the best thing would be to transcribe these for you. Be very proud of your fundraising efforts, they’re really making a difference as you can see below.

Dear Meersbrook Bowling Club

Thank you so much for the kind donation of £700 in honour of several of your members who were cared for on the unit. Your kindness is very much appreciated. I am sure the money will be fully utilised to ensure that current and future patients are able to be as comfortable. Please find enclosed a receipt to confirm that the donation has been paid into the Charitable Trust account for the unit.

Yours Sincerely

Rachel Bond – Ward Manager, Macmillan Palliative Care Unit

Dear All at Meersbrook Bowling Club

I can’t thank you enough for your fantastic gift of £700 to support patients in the Sheffield Palliative Care Unit. Your gift will make such a difference to patients and their families during a difficult time in their lives. You’ll help make somebody’s final days that little bit more comfortable, and bring joy to patients lives during what would otherwise be a really tough time. Gifts from generous people like you have already made a huge difference to patients lives. Just recently, gifts to the unit have provided the following:

Gifts have helped patients on the unit experience the therapeutic benefits of hydrotherapy and massage therapy, with the new hydro-therapy bath. The bath soothes discomfort, tension and stress, while helping to to significantly reduce and relieve pain.

Donations have also given patients access to complementary therapies, like aromatherapy massage and Reiki. Therapies like this help patients feel calm and relaxed, making their time in the Palliative Care Unit easier for them and their loved ones.

Our donors have transformed the Palliative Care Unit’s ‘quiet room’. The room is used by patients who want to get away from their bedside, and provides a space for them to spend quality time with their relatives and friends. Gifts have helped make the room much more comfortable for patients and their loved ones, providing a homely space where they can relax and enjoy precious time together.

These are just examples of some of the incredible things that your gift could make happen. I really can’t tell you how grateful we all are for your support, so thank you once again for caring so much about local patients.

With my very best wishes and thank you all so much for this great amount.

Kris Watson – Charity Services Officer, Sheffield Hospitals Charity.

In line with the latest Government restrictions, please note that closing times for all days is now 10pm. Last orders will be strictly called at 9:30pm to allow drinking up time. All members need to have vacated the club building by 10pm.

Also in line with Government restrictions, please note the following:

All members and partners must wear a face mask or visor upon entry to the club building, and these must be also worn while moving around the club premises to access toilets, games machines etc. The only time masks can be removed is when you are seated at your tables.

Table service is now to be strictly observed, and the area in front of the bar has been blocked off with access only for staff to collect drinks when ready to serve. Once you have sanitised and signed in please take a seat and order your drinks from there and we will gladly serve you.

It is now law that we display a QR code for the NHS Covid-19 track and trace app. If you prefer to use this method to sign in please feel free, but you must have downloaded the app beforehand.

All previously communicated restrictions and guidelines still apply.

Thank You once again for your excellent cooperation and support so far, it means so much to all those working hard to keep us all safe and keep the club open in the capacities we are allowed.

A small change to how you can book on for a game on the green for the next couple of weeks. To book a slot please contact Jack Clarke on 07963197234 – I am away on holiday so I will be unable to book you in. Thanks – Andrea

This weekend saw the MBC Club Doubles Comp (2019) played in lovely sunshine with the forecast heavy rain failing to materialise (don’t mention this to Steve Oliver). As per the previous weekend, the quality of bowling was very high with all games being very close, however not all games were nip & tuck, some pairs enjoyed big leads only to have the margins trimmed with some great comebacks staged to make it a very interesting comp. After being 13-6 down, Ian Christopherson & Paul Drabble scored on five consecutive ends to take the lead but Neil Fletcher & Dillon Christopherson held their nerve to retake the lead and see out the game to win 21-18. Both pairs had tough previous games with Neil & Dillon overcoming Jack & Nick Clarke 21-15. After a close start, Neil & Dillon stole a lead and unfortunately Jack & Nick couldn’t quite pull it back; whilst Ian & Paul had a scare against Dean Missere & Liz Burkhill as they were in front 19-18 after being 18-5 up but some great bowling on the last two ends saw them claim  the win at 21-18. In the other semi-final Mick Swift & Lisa Christopherson enjoyed a healthy lead but were pegged back by Mel Hobson & Debs Holden but some great leads from Lisa & back woods from Mick ensured their passage to the final with a 21-18 win.
Mick Swift &Lisa Christopherson raced into a 8-0 lead in the final but Neil Fletcher & Dillon Christopherson hit back to go in front themselves at 9-8. In what was arguably the turning point in the game, Mick had the last wood lying three down but his hit turned into one up in his & Lisa’s favour which then saw them to score three on the next end. The jack passed hands several times but the difference being that Neil & Dillon were reduced to scoring ones whilst Mick & Lisa pegged threes. Having said that a couple of threes brought Neil & Dillon back into the game, but Lisa lead superbly once shed’ got the jack back in her hand whilst Mick ensured no more points were conceded with some tidy bowling to run out deserved 21-17 winners.
A great afternoon’s bowling in lovely conditions, competitive but friendly games made it a pleasurable & enjoyable occasion. Thanks to everyone who turned up to make it so with extra thanks to Lisa, Ian & Jack for ensuring players & spectators were kept well watered! Congratulations to Mick & Lisa, commiserations to everyone else, but don’t worry, it’s less than two weeks before we play this years comp so who knows, it may just be your turn this time round?

2020 Club Comp Dates

Sat 5th Sept – Club Doubles Sun 20th Sept – Club Handicap Sat 26th Sept – Club Championship Sunday 4th Oct – Tomlinson Trophy (Round Robin)
To enter please contact Phil Holden on 07507730066

This weekend saw two of our outstanding club competitions played from last season from which Liz Burkhill & Jack Clarke were worthy winners.

On Saturday it was the Club Handicap which saw quite a few closely fought matches, a number of which that  involved Liz Burkhill in her progress to the final, which included a 21-19 victory over Mel Hobson in her semi-final. In the other half of the draw Ian Christopherson put up a fine showing in his semi-final to overcome Jack Clarke 21-12. In what was a great final Liz eventually got the upper hand over Ian to deservedly win 21-15.

Sunday was Club Championship day and despite the awful weather people’s competitive edge & enthusiasm wasn’t dampened with some excellent bowling all the way through the competition. Again we had two good semi-finals, at times looking like they could go either way. As it turned out it was Ian Christopherson making his second final of the weekend after beating Neil Fletcher 21-19, whilst Jack Clarke beat James Higgins 21-16 to book his final spot. It was top quality stuff in the final and despite a great game & effort by Ian Christopherson, he simply was no match for an impressive Jack Clarke who ran out a deserved 21-11 winner.

So congratulations to Liz & Jack and hard lines to Ian on what were two enjoyable days of bowling which also afforded us  a chance to catch up with friend we haven’t seen in a while. We go again this coming Saturday, 22nd August for the Club Doubles Comp (2019), be there for 10.45am for an 11.00am start. It would be nice to catch up with a few more of you  so if you haven’t done so already, get your name down by contacting Phil Holden on  07507730066 or Andrea Ainley on 07557332168

The most recent BCGBA guidelines for use of greens, now permits clubs to risk assess the number of players / blocks permitted on their own green at any time. After some discussion MBC have now revised their capacity limit. We are now permitting a maximum of 10 people onto the green during each available session. The number of people on the green at any time will be permitted to play in the format of their choice (Doubles, singles, etc) but there must be no more than 4 blocks on the green at any time. Any questions or queries please contact committee members who will be happy to discuss.

The social league are aiming to run their annual merits for 2020. I have received the entry forms that are below this morning, the closing dates are quite soon so if you wish to enter, please call or text club secretary Andrea Ainley: 07557332168 or send your entry by email: meersbrookbcsecretary@gmail.com and you will be added to the entry sheet. All of the competitions are pay on the day. To be eligible to play you must have been registered to play in the social league and played a minimum of 2 league games during the 2019 Social league season. You are also required to be registered to South Yorkshire for the 2020 season.

The dates have been set for our annual Vets internal competitions. Please let Brian Dickinson know if you are able to play on: 07732642606

There are now dates in place to play the outstanding competitions from the 2019 season and also dates for this years internal competitions to be run. Competitions Secretary Phil Holden (07507730066) and Club Secretary Andrea Ainley (07557332168) will be taking entries by telephone or text. You will also be able to add your name to the entry list located above the signing in book under the tea hut. If you do intend on playing, please ensure you enter by the above channels. This will allow us a clearer picture of numbers prior to the competition date, if there is little or no interest in playing we can then remove the booking from the green. Any queries or questions please get in touch with one of the above.

** Please note there is a typo on the day that the 2020 club doubles is to be held – the correct info is: Saturday 5th September 2020

On the 24^th November 1882, the Committee of Meersbrook Bowling Club resolved a motion to send Mr E.H Sanderson & Mr J Fairmainer to the Sheffield Gas Company Offices with the purpose of arranging for a lamp to put on the pillar outside the Club.

Somewhere in the dim and distant past, this lamp was removed. Although we don’t know when. What we do know however is that esteemed members who can go back to the late 1970’s have never seen a lamp on ‘the leaning pillar of MBC!’

In 2020, during a time of fear, panic, and uncertainty, Meersbrook Bowling Club Limited Directors Mr J.P Clarke & Mr I Christopherson were tasked to put the lamp back. May it act as a beacon to all our MBC family, past, present and future. To provide a welcoming beacon when they come home, to look at and remember dear friends and clubmates who have come and gone.

We have done this as a remembrance of 2020, with all the challenges it has brought us. It is there for all, and apart from future bulb changes, let the lamp not go out! Up The Club!

PS. It still leans! But JP and me think it adds to the character.