Peter Hayes, Publicity Officer, reports: “Head Coach, Rick Purnell, joined Marina Bowling Club in 2005 and has been an active member of the club ever since. In 2009 Rick volunteered to cover the role of General Secretary, owing to the incumbent’s illness. Then in 2010, he was elected as General Secretary in his own right. He became aware that membership was dropping and he decided to do something about it.
“Rick realised the importance of coaching, if membership was to develop and, along with himself, he recruited 4 members in order to gain coaching qualifications. He also enrolled the club in the ‘Sports England Club Mark’ scheme. In 2012 he set up the Development Group in order to establish a plan for the long term future of the club.
“Later, Rick created the Dawlish Bowls Youth Academy to embrace the juniors in both indoor as well as outdoor bowls disciplines.
“It is worth noting that Marina Bowling Club has one of the highest number of certified and accredited coaches in the whole of Devon!
“Since then, a number of youngsters have gone on to represent the county of Devon”.
“Rick is pictured with Maddy Pyper, who achieved County Colts Honours.
“In addition, 16 year old Andrew Moore recently earned a trial for England U18s. Although Andrew wasn’t selected, he will have learned a great deal from the experience – all thanks to Rick’s encouragement and guidance throughout.
“One of the more significant changes Rick made through the development Group, was the introduction of open days or ‘taster’ days for both Marina Bowling Club and Dawlish Indoor Bowls Club. These are well planned and professionally publicised well in advance. As a result, each year, new members have joined both clubs, discovering a talent for the sport, which they perhaps realised they never had before.
“Two members of Rick’s coaching team, Barbara, 2nd from the left, and Cherry, 2nd from the right, are seen with some new summer recruits.
“As a result of all these initiatives, membership of Marina Bowling Club has more than doubled since Rick applied himself diligently to his role. It is worth noting that apart from his coaching efforts, Rick led the rewriting of the Club’s Constitution, audited the Club’s accounts and was also a Trustee for 10 years.
“As a show of gratitude for his performance over the many years, the Committee conferred upon him Life Membership and the Presidency for the coming two years. In response, Rick responded in his customary way: ‘It will be an honour’!
“At the December AGM, Bowls Devon also awarded Rick the Certificate of Merit in recognition of his services to Marina Bowling Club and Devon County. “Thank you Rick – Shot Wood”!
