The proposed updates to the Articles of Pétanque England (PE) represent a significant shift in how the organisation is governed. After the controversy around the first draft earlier in the year, the revised proposals now return more power to the individual membership and move PE closer to a genuinely member-led structure.
Below is a summary of (1) what the first proposals tried to do, (2) how the new version differs, and (3) what the practical consequences could be after this year’s AGM if the new Articles are approved.
1. The First Attempt at Reform
The original draft Articles were criticised because they would have centralised power within the Board at the expense of ordinary members.
Specifically, they would have:
Removed individual members’ rights
- Members would no longer nominate or vote for Board Directors.
- Five of the eleven Directors would be chosen only by regions (“Voting Group Members”).
Created a Board-appointed majority
- A new Chief Executive with a vote would sit on the Board.
- Combined with others appointed by the Board, Board-appointed directors would form a majority for the first time.
This would have been a major cultural shift away from the traditional democratic, member-driven approach that has existed in PE and its predecessor bodies for decades.
The Board said that an incorrect draft of the Articles had been circulated to members. It decided to withdraw the proposal and rethink.
2. The Second Attempt – What the New Proposed Articles Do
The new proposals to be voted on at the 13 December AGM take a much more inclusive approach.
Key Positives and Major Changes
✓ Individual membership rights fully restored
Individual members retain the right to:
- Nominate directors
- Vote for directors
- Vote on AGM matters (membership fees, accounts, etc.)
✓ A genuinely member-led Board
For the first time since PE’s creation as a company limited by guarantee, a clear majority of Board members will be appointed by individual members.
- Current structure: 7 of 13 directors chosen by members (President + 6), 6 by the Board.
- Proposed structure: A 10-member Board, all potentially elected by members.
- Only two “independent directors” may be Board-appointed.
- This guarantees member control.
✓ Board-appointed Chief Executive with voting rights removed
This eliminates the risk of a Board-appointed majority.
✗ Elected President role abolished
This is the one major move away from historical practice.
- The President will no longer be elected by members.
- The role becomes ceremonial, non-voting, and appointed for a three-year term by the Board.
- The Board will instead appoint a Chair from within its elected members to run the organisation.
This change breaks with long-standing tradition in English pétanque governance, and no clear rationale has been provided.
3. What Happens After the 2025 AGM? – The Transitional Issues
Because this year’s AGM must run under the existing Articles, some oddities occur:
Who is retiring or standing?
- President Colin Roper and Treasurer Cary Bush (Board-appointed) will be reappointed by the Board – AGM approval is not needed, but the intention to reappoint has to be notified to members.
- The three-year term of President Colin Roper has expired, so nominations have been invited for this vacant elected position which will be abolished under the new Articles. The deadline to nominate a PE member for President is Friday 28th November.
- It is understood that Events Lead John Edmondson will seek member endorsement.
- There are four vacancies for member-elected directors and the deadline for nominations is Friday 28th November.
Board Composition Going Into 2025/26
- A member-appointed President.
- 5 Board-appointed directors.
- 2 member-appointed directors plus up to a further 4 depending on nominations.
However, if the new Articles pass, this structure will no longer match the new rules.
4. The Big Governance Question – How to Transition?
Once new Articles are adopted, all current directors will technically have been appointed under a system that no longer exists. Important inconsistencies include:
• Too many Board-appointed directors
Under the new Articles, only up to a maximum of two independent Board-appointed directors are allowed, but five could remain left over from the old system.
• “Retire one-third each year” no longer exists
The new Articles appoint all directors for fixed three-year terms, so the staggered-retirement model cannot continue.
Logical solution for 2026 AGM
The cleanest and simplest approach is:
✔ 2026 AGM opens nominations for up to 10 Board positions
All current directors either:
- step down, or
- stand again under the new system.
This “reset” would allow PE to start the new governance structure properly and eliminate the transitional mismatch.
5. Conclusion – A Positive Step Forward
The revised Articles are substantially better than both the current version and the withdrawn proposal from earlier this year. They:
- Strengthen member control.
- Improve democratic accountability.
- Align PE’s governance with expectations from funders and external bodies.
- Modernise the structure while still keeping individual member authority at its core.
The only significant loss is the directly elected President with voting power, a long-standing feature of English pétanque culture that many may feel is integral to the sport’s identity.
Ultimately, even the best constitutional structure is only as effective as the volunteers who serve within it. Strong governance depends on committed, capable people stepping forward – something the entire membership will need to reflect on as PE moves toward the next stage of its development.
Maybe the words of former US President John F Kennedy at his inaugural speech in 1961 have some resonance here – “Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.”
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