The public vote for the Bowls England Unsung Hero Award is now open so if you wish to support Roy Lane from Kensey Vale then the vote can be made using this link:
https://www.About Bowls England Awards Our Awards
The voting closes on the 14th January 2026.
This year 3 Clubs in Cornwall have been shortlisted in different categories for the Bowls England Awards. They are as follows:
1. Unsung Hero of the Year Roy Lane (Kensey Vale BC, Cornwall)
A long-standing fixture of Kensey Vale Bowls Club, Roy has been the Fixture Secretary for 49 years, set to complete his prestigious 50th year in the role in 2026. Roy has been a key part of the club for over half of its 99-year lifetime and has seen it grow from a club of three rinks to a club boasting six rinks and excellent facilities.
As well as his primary role, Roy has made sure to lend a hand in various other areas, helping to grow and develop the club he loves over the years. He has played a prominent role in helping youngsters discover and fall in love with the sport, he has assisted in organising many club competitions and has been a key member of the club’s management committees, overseeing the continued growth of Kensey Vale within the local community.
2026 will be Roy’s 50th and final season as Fixtures Secretary. The legacy of excellence he has left will be a tough act to follow, and the job he has done over his many years in the position speaks to his love for the club, his proactive attitude and his dedication to growing the game of bowls.
ROY IS ONE OF THREE NOMINEES IN THE ‘UNSUNG HERO OF THE YEAR’ CATEGORY WHICH WILL BE DECIDED BY A PUBLIC VOTE IN JANUARY 2026.
IF YOUR MEMBERS FEEL THEY CAN SUPPORT HIM THEN THE VOTING WILL BE OPEN SOMETIIME IN JANUARY 2026 ON THE B0WLS ENGLAND WEBSITE.
2. Junior Development Programme of the Year
Wadebridge BC, Cornwall
Wadebridge Bowling Club has made junior development a central focus, recognising that sustained investment over several years is key to retaining young players and enriching the club. In 2025, the club successfully integrated juniors into all aspects of club life, providing opportunities to play in senior teams, serve on committees, and contribute to maintenance and club activities.
The club’s Junior Fund, established from a £10,000 legacy, supported the creation of a new junior pavilion, the purchase of bowls and equipment, and financial assistance for juniors competing nationally. Notable successes include Dontai Joseph, an 11-year-old who qualified for the U17 Boys Singles at Leamington, finishing runner-up, with the Fund supporting his participation. Two teenagers progressed to the Men’s A Team and even assumed leadership roles, including A Team captain and fixtures secretary, demonstrating the impact of early promotion.
Wadebridge runs continuous programmes with local schools, delivering half-term bowls sessions to Year 5 students and after-school clubs open to all juniors. A Junior Taster Day introduced 20 young participants to bowls, with some joining the club in 2025. The club also collaborates with secondary schools to create structured pathways from school sessions to ongoing membership.
Inclusivity and mentoring are key: young members are coached by slightly older peers, enhancing engagement and confidence. Innovative initiatives led by juniors, such as Bowls Blitz tournaments and reimagined open singles competitions, attract non-members and foster creativity and club culture.
The club ensures safeguarding through updated DBS checks and promotes a “Welcoming – Supportive – Inclusive” ethos. Junior participation has not only strengthened the club’s playing squads but also enriched social, leadership, and volunteer contributions, positively influencing the entire membership.
Through sustained focus, structured pathways, mentoring, and innovative activities, Wadebridge Bowling Club has created a thriving junior programme that benefits both young players and the broader club community, ensuring long-term growth, inclusion, and engagement in the sport.
3. Club of the Year
Bodmin Bowls Club, Cornwall
Bodmin Bowls Club has continued to develop its Sport Development Plan in line with Bowls England’s vision and strategic objectives, supporting its own ambition to become a Centre of Excellence. As a Community Amateur Sports Club located in the centre of Bodmin, the Club aims to provide a welcoming environment where the community can enjoy bowls both socially and competitively. With indoor and outdoor greens and a central clubhouse, the Club serves a wide catchment within Cornwall.
Partnership working has been central to the Club’s success in 2025, contributing to increased membership, facility improvements, and funding. The Club is also supporting Bowls Cornwall and the Bowls Development Alliance by sharing its development planning experience with clubs across the county.
Key achievements include:
- A targeted Sport Development Plan focusing on recruitment, retention, governance, finance, and play
- Partnership with Active Cornwall to deliver activity sessions for residents over 55, supported by volunteer members, including qualified coaches and DBS-checked helpers
- Close engagement with NHS social prescribers
- Affiliation of Bodmin Colleges and four local Primary Schools
- Construction of a wheelchair-accessible ramp funded by the Sport England Movement Fund
- Installation of new indoor hall heating funded by The National Lottery Community Fund
- Establishment of Bodmin as the Cornwall Operational Hub for the Bowls Development Alliance, with countywide seminars and workshops planned for 2026
- Facility improvements since 2015 have modernised the Club and ensured it is Fit for the Future.
Junior development has strengthened through partnerships with local schools and colleges, each granted initial affiliation places for coaching sessions. These initiatives, combined with community open days and disability-inclusive events, continue to drive membership and engagement.
The Active Cornwall programme launched in January 2025, offering extensive coaching over twelve-week periods, free membership, and equipment support for participants. Four further intakes are scheduled through March 2026, with potential extension to 2027.
THE WADEBRIDGE AND BODMIN CATEGORIES WILL BE DECIDED BY A VOTING PANEL AND ALL DECISIONS WILL BE ANNOUNCED AT THE BOWLS ENGLAND AWARDS NIGHT ON THE 21st FEBRUARY 2026.
