It was announced at the 2025 AGM today (22nd February) that Sheila Storey will be stepping down from the Presidential team and will not be taking on the role as Bowls England President for the 2025 season, due to health reasons.
A statement shared by Sheila, said:
“The decision I have had to make did not come easy. When you make a commitment to do a job it should be made with the intention to give it 100%, and in fairness I could not guarantee Bowls England this in 2025.
When my County of Northumberland and my Club in Gosforth put me forward for the most prestigious honour of being Bowls England President, I accepted this humbly and with the greatest of intentions to make them proud. Alas I should have told my body.
In the Presidential team you work your way through the system learning as you go and giving your fellow team members, as you do in bowls, all the help the knowledge you yourself have gleaned. David King Taylors unfortunate knee and shoulder issues robbed him of his Presidency at the Aviva National Finals. This is when you saw me as a “whirling dervish “running from E Green to A Green now I am running nowhere. I learnt a lot during my Senior Vice Presidency from David King Taylor and previous Presidents which I hope I can impart to our wonderful Vice Presidents Kim Harris and Paul Green. I am at the end of the phone to help in any way.
It is my hope that second chances are available, but initially my goal is for 100% fitness and attending the Aviva National Finals in August 2025.
My sincere apologies to The Board and Staff of Bowls England and to you my fellow bowlers that I at the moment cannot serve you well.
I am in the hands of the NHS Orthopaedic and Cardiologist units who do not understand the stresses and strains of being a BOWLER but by the time they have finished with me they will.
Success in all you do in 2025.
Sheila Storey”
From everyone at Bowls England, we wish Sheila a speedy recovery and look forward to welcoming her to future events.
The Board and the newly appointed Vice Presidents, Paul Green (Northamptonshire) and Kim Harris (Devon), will work together to ensure the smooth running of Presidential duties for the 2025 season.