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Last Updated on Tuesday, 16 April 2024 19:49

Presidents Address AGM

FIRSTLY, LET ME APOLOGISE FOR MY ABSENCE. UNFORTUNATELY I CAN NOT BE WITH YOU TODAY DUE TO A COMMITMENT WHICH COULD NOT BE ALTERED.

IT HAS BEEN BOTH AN HONOUR AND A PRIVELEDGE TO SERVE AS YOUR PRESIDENT FOR THE LAST YEAR.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL OF THE EXECUTIVE FOR THEIR HELP AND GUIDANCE IN THE LAST THREE YEARS BUT IN PARTICULAR THIS LAST ONE. YOU HAVE ALL MANAGED TO KEEP ME ON THE STRAIGHT AND NARROW……………. WELL, MOST OF THE TIME.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK LADIES PRESIDENT ELAINE AND HER PRESIDENTIAL TEAM FOR THEIR SUPPORT THIS YEAR AND WISH IRENE THE VERY BEST FOR HER YEAR ONCE SHE HAS TAKEN OVER THE CHAIN FROM ELAINE.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MY DEPUTY PRESIDENT TREVOR, AND JUNIOR DEPUTY DAVE

I AM SURE THEY WILL HAVE A GREAT YEAR NEXT YEAR.

I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE HANDED OVER THE CHAIN PERSONALLY TO TREVOR WHO I KNOW WILL MAKE AN EXCELLENT PRESIDENT. I WISH HIM AND HIS TEAM ALL THE VERY BEST FOR THE COMING YEAR

DURING THE YEAR I ATTENDED THE EBF WEEK AT POTTERS, THE INDOOR FINALS AT LINCOLN, MANAGED TO SEE ALL OF THE COUNTY TEAMS PLAY AT LEAST ONCE AND OF COURSE THE YEAR CULMINATED AT SKEGNESS.

MUCH HAS, OR WILL BE SAID REGARDING THE GREENS AT SKEGNESS AND WHAT DECISIONS ARE MADE REGARDING THE GREENS AND OUR NATIONAL FINALS IN THE NEAR FUTURE, WILL UNDOUBTEDLY HAVE A GREAT BEARING ON THE FUTURE OF THE FEDERATION.

I HAVE PARTICULARLY ENOYED TRAVELLING AROUND THE COUNTIES AND AT THIS POINT WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL OF THE COUNTY PRESIDENTS AND OFFICIALS FOR THEIR HOSPITALITY TO BOTH CHRIS AND MYSELF ON MATCH DAYS AND AT THE VARIOUS PRESENTATION EVENTS WE HAVE ATTENDED.

IT HAS GIVEN ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR THE OPINIONS OF COUNTY OFFICIALS AS WELL AS THE PLAYERS REGARDING THE FUTURE OF BOWLS IN GENERAL AND THE FEDERATION IN PARTICULAR.

ALTHOUGH OPINIONS AND SUGGESTED COURSES OF ACTION VARY GREATLY THE ONE THING EVERYONE HAS HAD IN COMMON IS THEIR LOVE FOR THE GAME AND FOR THE FUTURE OF THE FEDERATION.

FROM MY TRAVELS I HAVE FOUND THAT WHILST SOME COUNTIES ARE THRIVING, A NUMBER ARE STRUGGLING TO ATTRACT NEW PLAYERS AND KEEP EXISTING PLAYERS, THIS IS A MAJOR CHALLENGE FOR SOME COUNTIES AND IT IS UP TO US ALL TO KEEP AN OPEN MIND AND LOOK FORWAD TO THE FUTURE KNOWING THAT HARD DECISIONS WILL HAVE TO BE MADE, AND THAT CHANGE IS INEVITABLE IF WE ARE TO SURVIVE.

SO RATHER THAN SHUN CHANGE, WE SHOULD EMBRACE IT AND MOVE FORWARD UNITED IN OUR PURPOSE OF CREATING AND EXPANDING OUR BONDS OF FRIENDSHIP AND CO-OPERATION BETWEEN ASSOCIATIONS, COUNTIES AND EVEN CODES,WHICH WILL LEAD TO A STRONGER FEDERATION FOR THE FUTURE.

IT ONLY REMAINS FOR ME TO THANK EVERYONE AGAIN FOR THE OPPORTUNITY OF BEING YOUR PRESIDENT AND TO WISH YOU ALL AND THE FEDERATION THE VERY BEST FOR THE FUTURE

IAN BRATTON

EBF NATIONAL PRESIDENT