1 week Ago By [email protected] (Danny Thompson)
A local bowls club has a new lease of life after a community effort has brought it back to former glory. Walsgrave Bowls Club had sat unused for several years, falling into disrepair after the operation folded. But local fans of the sport have worked together to get the green back in working order, with a specific focus on community, friendship and exercise.
The almighty effort started last summer, a gradual working progress run by a group of volunteers led by Lynn Morris turning the site around. A keen player of the indoor short mat version, Lynn was approached by Walsgrave Working Men's Club secretary John O'Brien last year to ask if she fancied getting the connected outdoor club back on its feet. After some much need time and attention, the green has been deemed good enough to host friendly bowls sessions throughout the week - and the Walsgrave Community Bowls Club was born.
Read more: 'Extreme' speeding saw 84mph clocked on this 40mph Coventry road Lynn said: "We were approached by John asking if we could do anything with the Bowls Club which was sadly neglected and had run into disrepair. Throughout last summer we set about clearing the green as best we could - it was covered in moss and bird poo which had accumulated under overhanging trees. "We scraped the moss off with long handled tools and brushed off the rest - it took hours and hours.
We also cleared out years of silt, leaves and muck from the gullies. "John had the trees removed and that let sunlight and air back into the green. The club handyman helped with the tree felling and he also repainted old benches - including two further benches which had been completely hidden in the trees.
We also brightened things up with a few pot plants, troughs and hanging baskets. "Once playable, we offered free bowling sessions to the community throughout the summer. We soon realised the state of the green meant it would not be suitable play in a league but that it was a wonderful facility for community social bowls and would provide a meeting place for exercise and friendship.
" Asked about why she undertook the project, Lynn said: "Myself and husband Paddy are members of the Walsgrave Working Men's Club and we run the Short Mat Teams and play in the winter league inside the concert room. "But we wanted to get the outdoor green back up and running as there are no other community bowls clubs in the area that provide social bowling. We want to introduce bowling to as wider section of the community as we can.
"Anyone over the age of 14 is welcome, we have a special wheelchair that can be used on the green for those that need it, and a disabled toilet, we have also refurbished and tidied up the ladies and gents loos. We have a meeting room, an equipment room and an office. We have inherited all the equipment from the previous bowls club so people don’t have to have their own bowls to play and we are fully supported by John and his team in the main Club.
" Explaining what those who attend can expect, Lynn added: "It will provide a meeting place for gentle exercise, friendship, a cup of tea or a pint of beer for all. New members are always welcome and are assured of a friendly welcome by our team. Coaching is available to new players as is equipment.
All you need to bring is yourself and pair of flat shoes or trainers. There are also exciting plans for the future: "We intend to offer some family events as we progress - maybe a family barbecue later in the summer, as well as competitions for members. We'll have Short Mat bowls outdoors, and when funding allows we hope to add Cornhole and Skittles so that any younger family members will also be able to participate.
"We are also currently in the process of affiliation with Warwickshire bowls association and Sport England." People looking to get involved can expect the first two sessions free. Full membership will allow you to play all summer for £20.
Pay to play membership is £2 per session The sessions currently on offer include Mondays 6pm-8pm, Tuesdays 9.30am-12.30pm, Wednesdays 6pm-8pm, Thursdays 1pm-4pm and Saturday 1pm-4pm.
Find out more at the club's Facebook group page ..
