Sevenoaks Bowls Club

Sevenoaks Bowls Club have been keeping up with their members during the coronavirus outbreak with virtual social events. Despite some technical hiccoughs along the way these have been a great success and grown in popularity.

The club has been able to use the sessions to promote the Bowls England exercise programme, check members are okay for shopping and medicine and circulate a list of local companies offering deliveries.

Club ladies’ captain Audrey said: “Our season was due to start with a couple of social events in April before the matches started. There should have been a ladies’ pre-season tea, a cheese and wine evening and we had plans for an open day.

“The club has a ‘mature’ membership but almost everyone is on e-mail, so I thought it was worth trying a virtual get together. It started small but everyone wanted to do it again and it has become a weekly event.

“We have discovered virtual backgrounds so several join from the bowls club or somewhere else in the world! We have members well into their 80s joining these meetings and coping with the technology.

“There have been some difficulties but mostly funny and usually resolved by a phone call. In one session our chattiest member was on mute and couldn’t sort it out (even with a phone call) so she could see and hear us but couldn’t say anything. She has now sorted it and won’t touch any of the settings on her phone in case it happens again. We also had one member looking like he was in Australia with his screen upside down!

“Our regular meetings have meant that we’ve been able to celebrate two birthdays by singing ‘Happy Birthday’ and are looking to replace the open day with a quiz.”

With thanks to Sevenoaks Bowls Club
www.sevenoaksbowlsclub.co.uk/index.htm

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