Advice on Scams for our Members

It appears that during lockdown we are all spending more time online, but this also make us also more vulnerable to online, and other forms of, scams. It is frightening how clever and realistic these can be now.

Having just attended a Safeguarding Course I can highly recommend a website called http://thinkjessica.com . It contains details of potential scams including those by post, phone, doorstep and online. Take some time to have a quick look at this site and stay safe. Ian Gill, Safeguarding Officer

Aughton and District Senior Citizens Bowling League

We have had confirmation that this years bowling fixtures for the above league have been cancelled and fees/fixtures will be carried forward to next year.

Reopening of Greens, Booking System and Strict Covid Guidelines

We are delighted to announce that we are now in a position to reopen the clubs bowling greens subject to certain guidelines which you can find on the club website under the Covid-19 tab. This also includes details of the new booking system (you can not just turn up, booking is required in advance). Risk assessments and general advice are also included and we would ask you all to familiarise yourselves with these before attending the club. The clubhouse and toilets are not to be opened until further notice and you must bring your own sanitiser, equipment, etc

We are opening both greens with effect from Sunday 24 May via the booking system referred to above..

Please note that it is important that the cricket club gate is locked at all times even when you are at the bowling green as we have given an undertaking that this will be the case. I will email all members with the the code for this and the bowling green. Only members who have paid their annual subscriptions will be allowed to bowl noting that you can pay the reduced fees of £25 (adults), £20 (cricket club members) or £5 (juniors) via the website under the join tab. 

Please do not attend the club if you have any Coronavirus symptoms and advise us if you display any symptoms after you have attended the club for tracing purposes.

We hope you are looking forward to playing the game we love again even though it is on a non-competitive basis for the time being. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any queries.

Happy bowling!

Coronavirus Update

The Club’s committee is currently looking at the latest Government advice and that being received from the BCGBA about the limited reintroduction of some bowling.  There will need to be some strict safeguards put in place, including a risk assessment, before any bowling can take place.  As soon as the Club’s Committee is satisfied that we have a suitable system in place some limited practicing may be allowed and there will be a further announcement early next week setting out the restrictions.  Until then the greens remain closed and members should not use the facility.

Test Update

Well folks Eric Barklem has been doing some in depth research on the Ormskirk bowling greens question and has got almost every green on my list, these being.

Current Greens
1 & 2 Ormskirk Bowling Club’s Greens
3. Coronation Park
Former Greens
4. Windmill (now unused)
5. St Annes Social Centre (now unused)
6. Roper’s Arms (where the Co-op car park is)
7. Comrades Club (now the McCarthy & Stone flats)
8. Eureka (now a car park for the pub)
9. Dray & Horses (now Fat Italian on Derby Street)
10. Ormskirk Institute (it was at the rear of the building, now the back end of the bus station. This may have been used by a Golden Lion team)
11. Talbot (pub stood on Aughton Street on the current site of Iceland and the bowling green was approx where the back end of Aldi is now)
12. Queens Head (the green was not right by the pub but was on Moorgate approx where the Lunesdale car park is now, opposite Hesfords)

Can anyone locate the final one?  Eric thinks he has found one by Park Road near where Coronation Park is now, and possibly one near Bridge Street (which may be the Queens Head one mentioned above) but I will need to adjudicate those.  I think I have one more, can anyone find it?

Lockdown Test

Everyone might be getting a bit bored during lockdown so here is a quick test for you bowling and local history buffs. How many individual bowling greens have existed, or currently exist, in Ormskirk? This number should not include any in Aughton or Westhead. Just name the number and either reply to this post on the website or to the Facebook post. I will then let you know the number I have got and then ask you all to say what they are. Let’s see who can get closest, there are quite a few!!  Good luck, Ian

Need any help?

I hope that all our Members are keeping safe and well, and that you have all the help that you need.  However, if you are are struggling in any way to cope, whether this be with getting food, medication or any other form of support please get in touch with me (contact details on our website).  We are a fantastic club that prides itself on being friendly and welcoming and I know that several of you are already in touch with each other through WhatsApp groups or other means of communication.

The Club takes the welfare of its members very seriously and will offer any help it can at this difficult time.

Ian Gill – Safeguarding/Welfare Officer

Feeling bored?

If you are feeling a little stir crazy after being stuck inside and want to be reminded about what bowling is all about, take in one of the best matches you could hope to watch from 2017.  This is from the Champion of Champions held at the Waterloo, and features two of the best young players.  Fantastic match from start to finish, with plenty of showmanship and needle added in!

Jimmy Gardner – sad news

The Club has been notified of the sad passing of Jimmy Gardner.  Jim played for several clubs over the years, and was a team member in our Aughton League ‘B’ side in our inaugural 2016 season, playing in one of the first matches to be played on the artificial green.

Prior to that Jimmy played with several of us over the years at the Windmill and was well known in bowling circles.  He was a keen sportsman and lover of all sports, as well as enjoying an occasional flutter.  For many years, when younger, he ran the Burscough Boxing Club, training many young lads in the sport.

Jimmy always enjoyed playing with and encouraging the younger players at our club and he will be sadly missed.  Our thoughts are with his family at this sad time.

Club/Coronavirus Update

Dear OBC member

Firstly, and most importantly, I hope that you and your loved ones are healthy and keeping safe during these troubling times.

At the moment the prospect of bowling looks some way off whilst we remain in lockdown. I am though writing to ask for your support. As previously mentioned, like all sports clubs, OBC has set costs which we have to continue to pay regardless of whether or not we are actually able to use the greens. These include licenses, utilities, insurance costs, affiliation costs, green upkeep, etc. As a committee we will be looking at grants we may be able to apply for to help with these costs, but we must also turn to you , our members, and ask for your support.

I would be extremely grateful if you could pay your annual membership fees as soon as you can please and no later than the end of April (my thanks to those who have already done this). Put simply, we face a massive loss in income through the lack of match fees, football cards, etc and we need your support to ensure the club remains in a stable financial position. If you were thinking of not paying your subscription fees this year can I please urge you to reconsider and join up again. Remember, unlike most other clubs, we offer all-year round bowling facilities. I can assure you that every penny we receive through subscriptions will be spent on keeping the club in good order for the enjoyment of all members.

Thank you for your ongoing support and I hope to see you on the green at some point this summer.

Stay safe and healthy.

Steve James

Chairman