Rules of Chesham Bowling Club
1. Constitution
1.1 The Club was founded in 1912 and in 1947 the land and buildings of 1.25 acres were acquired under conveyance dated 5.2.47, wherein three trustees of a Club called the CHESHAM BOWLING CLUB were appointed and the property was vested in them upon trust for the members of the Club according to the rules thereof and to be sold, leased, mortgaged or otherwise dealt with by the Trustees as the Committee of the Club should from time to time direct. A Ladies Section was formed in 1965. The Club was converted to a Mixed Club in 2000.
2. Name and Nature of the Club
2.1 The name of the Club shall be the “Chesham Bowling Club”.
2.2 The Club shall be a members’ club and shall consist of ordinary members, honorary life members and pavilion members, juniors and young persons.
2.3 A blind bowlers club, called the “Chesham Pioneers”, shall be affiliated to the Club.
3. Membership
3.1 Election to membership shall be made by the Committee of the Club.
3.2. Every applicant for membership, including changing from pavilion to full membership, shall be submitted to the Committee within 3 days of the application by email. The application shall be accepted by the committee subject to no valid reason to refuse membership is raised. If an objection is raised the committee shall meet to discuss the application and if necessary make a determination by a simple vote. No reason shall be given to any applicant for membership in the event of rejection.
Any person whose application for membership has been refused, shall not be eligible to re-apply until a minimum of one year has elapsed from the date of the last refusal.
Junior members are defined as under the age of 18 on the 1st April and Young People to a maximum of 25 on the 1st April.
3.3 Pavilion members shall enjoy the privilege of use of the Pavilion and grounds. Their use of the green shall be subject to the limitations of Rule 10.1. They shall not be entitled to vote at any General Meeting of the Club, nor shall they be eligible for election to the Committee or any sub-committee.
3.4 Applicants shall only be admitted to membership after being elected as provided in Rule 3.1 and having paid the current entrance fee.
3.5 The Club in General Meeting may elect members to Honorary Life Membership, provided that at any time there shall be no more than six life members. Honorary Life members shall not be liable to pay any subscription, but shall be entitled to all the privileges of ordinary membership.
3.6 Active playing members are required as a condition of their membership, to undertake at least three catering or four bar duties per season. Exceptions shall only be made at the discretion of the Committee. When doing a bar duty the member shall not play in the match or competition.
3.7 The club endorses the Bowls England Regulations and Guidance Notes for the following:
1. Children and Vulnerable Adults 2. Equality Act 2010
3. Health and Safety 4. Disability
4. Committee
4.1 The affairs of the Club, in all matters not reserved for the Club in General Meeting in these Rules, shall be managed by the Committee of the Club. Ordinary members and Honorary Life members shall be eligible for election to the Committee of the Club.
4.2 The Committee shall be made up of a Chairman, Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Match Secretary, Treasurer, Men’s Captain, Women’s Captain and committee of six members, half of the committee members to be elected annually to serve for a period of two years.
4.3 The President shall be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting and shall be an ex-officio member of the Committee; his/her period of office shall not exceed three years.
4.4 The Committee shall be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting of the Club, with the exception of those committee members who have been elected for two years and still have one year to serve.
4.5 The nomination of Officers and committee members and selectors must be in the hands of the Secretary, together with the names of the proposer and seconder, 21 days before the Annual General Meeting. All nominees must express their willingness to serve before nomination is made.
4.6 The Committee may appoint one or more sub-committees for such purposes as it may deem appropriate. The Chairman, Captains, Secretary and Treasurer shall be ex-officio with voting powers to all sub-committees except the selection sub-committee.
4.6.1 The Selection Committee, consisting of three men and three women, for all club representative games to be chosen by the members at the AGM preceding the forthcoming season.
4.7 Five committee members shall constitute a quorum of the Committee and two a quorum of a sub-committee.
4.8 Every officer and committee member shall act in all matters in accordance with the direction of the Committee of the Club.
4.9 The Committee is authorised, on behalf of the Club, to engage such staff as may be necessary for the efficient and economical running of the Club; may determine the terms of the contracts with employees, including wages, and may lawfully terminate any such agreement.
4.10 The Committee shall be empowered to fill any vacancy caused by resignation or otherwise of any Officer or committee member of the Club.
4.11 The Committee shall first have the approval of at least two-thirds of the members present and entitled to vote at a General Meeting if they wish to instruct the Trustees to sell, lease, mortgage or otherwise deal with the freehold property of the Club as provided in the Constitution.
5. Trustees
5.1 There shall be three Trustees of the Club, who shall be appointed from time to time as necessary by the Club in General Meeting from among Ordinary or Honorary Life members who are willing to be appointed.
5.2 A Trustee shall hold office for life, unless he/she resigns by notice given in writing to the Committee, or until a resolution removing him/her from office is passed at a General Meeting of the Club, by a majority comprising two-thirds of the members present and entitled to vote.
6. Finances, Accounts and Subscriptions
6.1 All members, including Trustees, Officers and Committee, being members, shall be responsible equally for any liabilities incurred by the Club.
6.2 The Financial Year of the Club shall commence on 1st October. The accounts of the Club for each financial year shall be presented at the Annual General Meeting after having been examined and certified by an Auditor appointed by the Annual General Meeting.
6.3 The annual subscription, entrance, competition, locker and visitors’ fees shall be determined at the Annual General Meeting each year. At the discretion of the Committee an ordinary member or a pavilion member may be allowed to pay a reduced subscription for any period less than a year.
6.4 Annual subscriptions, locker and competition fees shall be paid not later than 1st April. The Committee may terminate the membership of an Ordinary member or a Pavilion member whose annual subscription remains unpaid for one month after being notified of the fact by the Secretary.
7. General Meetings
7.1 An Annual General Meeting shall be held during November in each year. Notice of the day and time of the Annual General Meeting shall be notified to members at least fourteen days before the date of such meeting and a copy of the audited accounts for the previous financial year shall be sent to the members with the notification.
7.2 A General Meeting of the Club may be summoned at any time by the Committee, or by any ten members, entitled to vote, delivering a written request to the Club Chairman. A General Meeting shall be summoned by the sending of a notification of the Meeting to members entitled to vote at least fourteen days before the date of the Meeting. This period may be shortened at the discretion of the Committee if the urgency of the business to be discussed in their opinion so requires.
7.3 At any General Meeting of the Club every Ordinary member or Honorary Life member of the Club shall be entitled to vote upon every question raised. In the event of equality of voting, the Chairman of the meeting shall have a second or casting vote.
8. Intoxicating Liquor
8.1 The Committee shall arrange for the purchase of intoxicating liquor on behalf of the Club, and for its sale by the Club to members and other persons on the Club premises. They shall ensure the due observance of the provisions of the Licensing Act, 1964 and other Acts relating thereto, and of any conditions attached to any licence held by or on behalf of the Club for the supply of intoxicating liquor.
8.2 The supply of intoxicating liquor on the Club premises shall be permitted during the following hours: Monday to Saturday 11.00 am to 11.00 pm; Sundays and Good Friday 12 noon to 10.30 pm.
8.3 The following conditions attached by the police to the Club’s Registration Certificate for the supply of intoxicating liquor and the admission of guests must be observed:
(a) No intoxicating liquor shall be supplied otherwise than to:
(i) a member of the Club who has been a member for at least two days or whose application for membership was made at least two days before his admission;
(ii) a guest of such a member;
(iii) a person to whom a sale of intoxicating liquor is permitted under sub-section 4 of section 49 of the Licensing Act, 1964;
(iv) members and officials of teams visiting the Club premises for the purpose of playing a match but excluding spectators and supporters of same;
(v) persons within the aforementioned provisions who have attained the age of 18 years.
(b) A list of names and addresses of all members of the Club shall be kept on the premises.
(c) No members shall be allowed to introduce more than three guests into the Club at any one time.
(d) The names and addresses of all guests and the name of the member introducing them to the premises shall be entered into a book maintained solely for that purpose, such book to be kept at the bar.
(e) Intoxicating liquor may be sold to persons attending the Club premises for social or other functions organised or authorised by the Club provided that the number of functions shall not exceed twelve in any one year, but no function shall be permitted to which admission may be obtained by payment of money at the door whether for a ticket or otherwise.
(f) No intoxicating liquor shall be supplied for consumption off the premises except to a member in person.
9. Smoking Restrictions
9.1 Smoking and vaping are not permitted in the club buildings or grounds, with the exception of a designated area.
9.2 All litter shall be taken home or placed in the bin located in the designated smoking area.
10. Visitors
10.1 Visitors may be introduced by any member and become a temporary member on payment in advance of the current daily or weekly charges. No member shall be allowed to introduce any one friend as a visitor more than three times in any one season, or at the discretion of the Committee.
11. Use of Green
11.1 Members wishing to play a competition game, should record details (date, time, names of opponents, particulars of the competition) in the book provided, at least two days before the game is due to take place.
11.2 Rinks will be allocated by a delegated member of the Committee, whose decision shall be final, in the following order of precedence:
A roll-up rink will be allocated by the green ranger each week day afternoon and evening and put in the rink book, except where County competitions or matches authorised by the committee leave no rink available.
11.4 All members and their guests, whilst using the green must at all times comply with the standards of dress decided by the Committee of the Club, as displayed by notice in the Club Pavilion.
12. Disputes
12.1 All disputes arising in the game shall be referred to members of the Committee then present, whose decision shall be final. Such disputes to be settled in accordance with the rules of Bowls England.
12.2 The club has a desire and duty to provide services faithfully and without discrimination and is fully committed to the principles of equality of access and opportunity in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.
13. Conduct of Members
13.1 Any allegation of misconduct by a member or members shall be administered in accordance with the procedures laid down in Bowls England Regulation No.9.
13.2 Members may bring children onto the Club premises provided they accept full responsibility for their behaviour and ensure that they are properly supervised. Gaming machines situated in the Club Pavilion are not to be used by persons under the age of 18 years.
14. Notices
14.1 Members shall keep the Secretary informed of their private addresses and telephone numbers, or of some other address to which communications may be sent.
15. Alteration of Rules
15.1 These rules may be revoked, added to or altered by a majority comprising two thirds or more of the members present and entitled to vote at any General Meeting of the Club of which notice has been duly given under Rule 7. Notice of any proposed revocation, alteration or addition to the Rules, together with the names of the proposer and seconder, must be sent in writing to the Secretary at least twenty-one days before the date of the General Meeting.
16. Dissolution
16.1 If the Club at any time shall pass in General Meeting by a majority comprising two-thirds or more of the members present and entitled to vote, a resolution of intention to dissolve the Club, the Trustees under the direction of the Committee shall take immediate steps to convert all of the assets of the Club into money. The proceeds of the conversion shall be used by the Trustees firstly to discharge all debts and liabilities of the Club. Any balance shall be divided equally between all persons who were members at the date of the resolution of the intention to dissolve.
These Rules, adopted at an Extraordinary General Meeting held on 11th August 2000, came into force at the Annual General Meeting held on 24th November 2000, incorporate subsequent amendments made at Annual General Meetings up to and including the Annual General Meeting held on 19th November 2023.
A copy of these Rules is available in the Club Pavilion and is issued to all Club members.
1.1 The Club was founded in 1912 and in 1947 the land and buildings of 1.25 acres were acquired under conveyance dated 5.2.47, wherein three trustees of a Club called the CHESHAM BOWLING CLUB were appointed and the property was vested in them upon trust for the members of the Club according to the rules thereof and to be sold, leased, mortgaged or otherwise dealt with by the Trustees as the Committee of the Club should from time to time direct. A Ladies Section was formed in 1965. The Club was converted to a Mixed Club in 2000.
2. Name and Nature of the Club
2.1 The name of the Club shall be the “Chesham Bowling Club”.
2.2 The Club shall be a members’ club and shall consist of ordinary members, honorary life members and pavilion members, juniors and young persons.
2.3 A blind bowlers club, called the “Chesham Pioneers”, shall be affiliated to the Club.
3. Membership
3.1 Election to membership shall be made by the Committee of the Club.
3.2. Every applicant for membership, including changing from pavilion to full membership, shall be submitted to the Committee within 3 days of the application by email. The application shall be accepted by the committee subject to no valid reason to refuse membership is raised. If an objection is raised the committee shall meet to discuss the application and if necessary make a determination by a simple vote. No reason shall be given to any applicant for membership in the event of rejection.
Any person whose application for membership has been refused, shall not be eligible to re-apply until a minimum of one year has elapsed from the date of the last refusal.
Junior members are defined as under the age of 18 on the 1st April and Young People to a maximum of 25 on the 1st April.
3.3 Pavilion members shall enjoy the privilege of use of the Pavilion and grounds. Their use of the green shall be subject to the limitations of Rule 10.1. They shall not be entitled to vote at any General Meeting of the Club, nor shall they be eligible for election to the Committee or any sub-committee.
3.4 Applicants shall only be admitted to membership after being elected as provided in Rule 3.1 and having paid the current entrance fee.
3.5 The Club in General Meeting may elect members to Honorary Life Membership, provided that at any time there shall be no more than six life members. Honorary Life members shall not be liable to pay any subscription, but shall be entitled to all the privileges of ordinary membership.
3.6 Active playing members are required as a condition of their membership, to undertake at least three catering or four bar duties per season. Exceptions shall only be made at the discretion of the Committee. When doing a bar duty the member shall not play in the match or competition.
3.7 The club endorses the Bowls England Regulations and Guidance Notes for the following:
1. Children and Vulnerable Adults 2. Equality Act 2010
3. Health and Safety 4. Disability
4. Committee
4.1 The affairs of the Club, in all matters not reserved for the Club in General Meeting in these Rules, shall be managed by the Committee of the Club. Ordinary members and Honorary Life members shall be eligible for election to the Committee of the Club.
4.2 The Committee shall be made up of a Chairman, Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Match Secretary, Treasurer, Men’s Captain, Women’s Captain and committee of six members, half of the committee members to be elected annually to serve for a period of two years.
4.3 The President shall be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting and shall be an ex-officio member of the Committee; his/her period of office shall not exceed three years.
4.4 The Committee shall be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting of the Club, with the exception of those committee members who have been elected for two years and still have one year to serve.
4.5 The nomination of Officers and committee members and selectors must be in the hands of the Secretary, together with the names of the proposer and seconder, 21 days before the Annual General Meeting. All nominees must express their willingness to serve before nomination is made.
4.6 The Committee may appoint one or more sub-committees for such purposes as it may deem appropriate. The Chairman, Captains, Secretary and Treasurer shall be ex-officio with voting powers to all sub-committees except the selection sub-committee.
4.6.1 The Selection Committee, consisting of three men and three women, for all club representative games to be chosen by the members at the AGM preceding the forthcoming season.
4.7 Five committee members shall constitute a quorum of the Committee and two a quorum of a sub-committee.
4.8 Every officer and committee member shall act in all matters in accordance with the direction of the Committee of the Club.
4.9 The Committee is authorised, on behalf of the Club, to engage such staff as may be necessary for the efficient and economical running of the Club; may determine the terms of the contracts with employees, including wages, and may lawfully terminate any such agreement.
4.10 The Committee shall be empowered to fill any vacancy caused by resignation or otherwise of any Officer or committee member of the Club.
4.11 The Committee shall first have the approval of at least two-thirds of the members present and entitled to vote at a General Meeting if they wish to instruct the Trustees to sell, lease, mortgage or otherwise deal with the freehold property of the Club as provided in the Constitution.
5. Trustees
5.1 There shall be three Trustees of the Club, who shall be appointed from time to time as necessary by the Club in General Meeting from among Ordinary or Honorary Life members who are willing to be appointed.
5.2 A Trustee shall hold office for life, unless he/she resigns by notice given in writing to the Committee, or until a resolution removing him/her from office is passed at a General Meeting of the Club, by a majority comprising two-thirds of the members present and entitled to vote.
6. Finances, Accounts and Subscriptions
6.1 All members, including Trustees, Officers and Committee, being members, shall be responsible equally for any liabilities incurred by the Club.
6.2 The Financial Year of the Club shall commence on 1st October. The accounts of the Club for each financial year shall be presented at the Annual General Meeting after having been examined and certified by an Auditor appointed by the Annual General Meeting.
6.3 The annual subscription, entrance, competition, locker and visitors’ fees shall be determined at the Annual General Meeting each year. At the discretion of the Committee an ordinary member or a pavilion member may be allowed to pay a reduced subscription for any period less than a year.
6.4 Annual subscriptions, locker and competition fees shall be paid not later than 1st April. The Committee may terminate the membership of an Ordinary member or a Pavilion member whose annual subscription remains unpaid for one month after being notified of the fact by the Secretary.
7. General Meetings
7.1 An Annual General Meeting shall be held during November in each year. Notice of the day and time of the Annual General Meeting shall be notified to members at least fourteen days before the date of such meeting and a copy of the audited accounts for the previous financial year shall be sent to the members with the notification.
7.2 A General Meeting of the Club may be summoned at any time by the Committee, or by any ten members, entitled to vote, delivering a written request to the Club Chairman. A General Meeting shall be summoned by the sending of a notification of the Meeting to members entitled to vote at least fourteen days before the date of the Meeting. This period may be shortened at the discretion of the Committee if the urgency of the business to be discussed in their opinion so requires.
7.3 At any General Meeting of the Club every Ordinary member or Honorary Life member of the Club shall be entitled to vote upon every question raised. In the event of equality of voting, the Chairman of the meeting shall have a second or casting vote.
8. Intoxicating Liquor
8.1 The Committee shall arrange for the purchase of intoxicating liquor on behalf of the Club, and for its sale by the Club to members and other persons on the Club premises. They shall ensure the due observance of the provisions of the Licensing Act, 1964 and other Acts relating thereto, and of any conditions attached to any licence held by or on behalf of the Club for the supply of intoxicating liquor.
8.2 The supply of intoxicating liquor on the Club premises shall be permitted during the following hours: Monday to Saturday 11.00 am to 11.00 pm; Sundays and Good Friday 12 noon to 10.30 pm.
8.3 The following conditions attached by the police to the Club’s Registration Certificate for the supply of intoxicating liquor and the admission of guests must be observed:
(a) No intoxicating liquor shall be supplied otherwise than to:
(i) a member of the Club who has been a member for at least two days or whose application for membership was made at least two days before his admission;
(ii) a guest of such a member;
(iii) a person to whom a sale of intoxicating liquor is permitted under sub-section 4 of section 49 of the Licensing Act, 1964;
(iv) members and officials of teams visiting the Club premises for the purpose of playing a match but excluding spectators and supporters of same;
(v) persons within the aforementioned provisions who have attained the age of 18 years.
(b) A list of names and addresses of all members of the Club shall be kept on the premises.
(c) No members shall be allowed to introduce more than three guests into the Club at any one time.
(d) The names and addresses of all guests and the name of the member introducing them to the premises shall be entered into a book maintained solely for that purpose, such book to be kept at the bar.
(e) Intoxicating liquor may be sold to persons attending the Club premises for social or other functions organised or authorised by the Club provided that the number of functions shall not exceed twelve in any one year, but no function shall be permitted to which admission may be obtained by payment of money at the door whether for a ticket or otherwise.
(f) No intoxicating liquor shall be supplied for consumption off the premises except to a member in person.
9. Smoking Restrictions
9.1 Smoking and vaping are not permitted in the club buildings or grounds, with the exception of a designated area.
9.2 All litter shall be taken home or placed in the bin located in the designated smoking area.
10. Visitors
10.1 Visitors may be introduced by any member and become a temporary member on payment in advance of the current daily or weekly charges. No member shall be allowed to introduce any one friend as a visitor more than three times in any one season, or at the discretion of the Committee.
11. Use of Green
11.1 Members wishing to play a competition game, should record details (date, time, names of opponents, particulars of the competition) in the book provided, at least two days before the game is due to take place.
11.2 Rinks will be allocated by a delegated member of the Committee, whose decision shall be final, in the following order of precedence:
- Club matches and other matches authorised by the Committee;
- County competitions;
- Competitions entered by the Club;
- Club competitions;
- Other competitions entered by individual members;
- Other games.
A roll-up rink will be allocated by the green ranger each week day afternoon and evening and put in the rink book, except where County competitions or matches authorised by the committee leave no rink available.
11.4 All members and their guests, whilst using the green must at all times comply with the standards of dress decided by the Committee of the Club, as displayed by notice in the Club Pavilion.
12. Disputes
12.1 All disputes arising in the game shall be referred to members of the Committee then present, whose decision shall be final. Such disputes to be settled in accordance with the rules of Bowls England.
12.2 The club has a desire and duty to provide services faithfully and without discrimination and is fully committed to the principles of equality of access and opportunity in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.
13. Conduct of Members
13.1 Any allegation of misconduct by a member or members shall be administered in accordance with the procedures laid down in Bowls England Regulation No.9.
13.2 Members may bring children onto the Club premises provided they accept full responsibility for their behaviour and ensure that they are properly supervised. Gaming machines situated in the Club Pavilion are not to be used by persons under the age of 18 years.
14. Notices
14.1 Members shall keep the Secretary informed of their private addresses and telephone numbers, or of some other address to which communications may be sent.
15. Alteration of Rules
15.1 These rules may be revoked, added to or altered by a majority comprising two thirds or more of the members present and entitled to vote at any General Meeting of the Club of which notice has been duly given under Rule 7. Notice of any proposed revocation, alteration or addition to the Rules, together with the names of the proposer and seconder, must be sent in writing to the Secretary at least twenty-one days before the date of the General Meeting.
16. Dissolution
16.1 If the Club at any time shall pass in General Meeting by a majority comprising two-thirds or more of the members present and entitled to vote, a resolution of intention to dissolve the Club, the Trustees under the direction of the Committee shall take immediate steps to convert all of the assets of the Club into money. The proceeds of the conversion shall be used by the Trustees firstly to discharge all debts and liabilities of the Club. Any balance shall be divided equally between all persons who were members at the date of the resolution of the intention to dissolve.
These Rules, adopted at an Extraordinary General Meeting held on 11th August 2000, came into force at the Annual General Meeting held on 24th November 2000, incorporate subsequent amendments made at Annual General Meetings up to and including the Annual General Meeting held on 19th November 2023.
A copy of these Rules is available in the Club Pavilion and is issued to all Club members.
