Big plans for bowls and more

It was a perfect spring afternoon at Rye Bowls Club on Sunday, April 27. The club’s open day on the first day of the season brought in the crowds under cloudless blue skies to find out more about the sport, and the ambitious plans to benefit the community.

It’s been a big year for the club which took over the tenancy of the green and club house in December last year when Rother District Council withdrew funding.

“We were really struggling,” says club secretary, Ian Scott. “Our membership had fallen to about 20 and when the funding went we were thinking about calling it quits because we couldn’t see how we could make it work.” The club hopes to complete negotiations on a 25-30 year lease with RDC soon, after months of discussion and hard work.

Now with almost fifty members and a new committee, Ian says there are two things that will ensure a sound future. “It has to be somewhere people want to play bowls for fun and competitively, but it also needs to be used by local people for other things.”

He says Flora Williams has played a huge role in moving things on. “She’s a big part of the Rye. She knows everyone and has put her heart and soul into making the club central to  the community again. ”

The day before the club played host to Rye Mobility Awareness Day, which Flora says is a great example of making the bowls club more accessible. “We’re improved the facilities and set aside a smaller green for boccia and younger people to play on. There are playing members and social members and we’ve been expanding our events beyond bowls.” The club is home to Rye’s Mantuary – a new social event for men – and more events are being planned.

Many people at the open day praised the quality of the bowling green. Maintaining it is another big change for the club says Ian Scott. “Rye always had a good reputation for the green and the contractors who looked after it did a good job too, so we inherited something good to build on. Ray Palmer has taken on the role as a volunteer and is doing a great job. It’s really high-tech and pretty complex.”

The club also has competitive ambitions he says. “A couple of yeas ago we were second in the Mermaid League which is quite an achievement for a small club. Our aim is to regain that status.”

The next free taster is on Bank Holiday Monday May 26 10.30 til 12.30
A Social night is booked for Thursday 29 May for all members

Roll-Ups Monday, Wednesday (non match days) and Friday Mornings 10.30 – 12.30
and also an evening session Tuesday Evenings from 7pm

Full fixtures available to anyone when they join or it will be posted on facebook

List of 2025 sponsors:

Mermaid Inn-sponsoring this years Rye Tournament on Saturday July 26

Rock Chanel Marine
Armour Flooring
Power Surge Electrical
In Action Bowlswear
Rush Witt & Wilson-Rye
Specsavers Tenterden

Plus Rye Hire, Sweet Williams and Rye Butchers who sponsored our Fixtures Booklet

Thanks also to Rye Town Council (Funding RBC signs) Rother Sports Development team (funding some disability bowls equipment), Wickes Community programme (funding to re-furb the disabled toilet).

More details about Rye Bowls Club on the Facebook site.

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Image Credits: Kt bruce .