Landmark for Birmingham bowlers

Erdington Court Bowls Club 90th anniversary open day.

A local bowls club is celebrating its 90th anniversary year by holding an open day just months after recruiting over 50 new members – and is hoping to attract more disabled members and young people into the game.

Erdington Court Bowls Club, based on land adjoining Goosemoor Lane in Erdington, is holding an open day on Sunday 12th April as part of a continuing drive to boost membership of the Club – which is the largest south of Tamworth. A previous open day held in the autumn resulted in an increase of over 25% in membership.

Guest of honour at the event include disabled bowler and Commonwealth Games bronze medal winner Bob Love, who lives in Kingstanding and works for Birmingham City Council. Bob was born without arms and has become a top bowler using his feet. Another of the VIP guests is Councillor John Cotton Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing in Birmingham. Councillor Cotton is coming to see for himself how bowls can assist residents in remaining healthy.

Local dentist and chair of the Trustees at the club Rob Robinson, said, “The open day is a time for looking back and celebrating our history, but it is also a time for looking forward – by recruiting new members and raising funds for improvements that ensure that we maintain the high standards at the club. Our previous open day was a huge success with visitors queuing up to have a go under the supervision of our trained coaches.”

“In recent years, over £100,000 has been spent on improving facilities at the club with assistance from Sport England. We have a six rink outdoor all-weather green and four indoor rinks for inclement weather – and for the winter season. We also have facilities for disabled bowers and we would like to attract more wheelchair members. We are also hoping for form a new youth section over the next year or so and look forward to welcoming prospective new members and visitors.”

The club forms part of the Erdington Recreational Trust, a charity established by Erdington Wesleyan Methodist Church at the beginning of the 20th Century and which still continues today. They can be contacted on 0121 373 2440 or freephone on 0808 1972 484. Readers interested can also visit the club web site at www.erdingtoncourtbowlsclub.com or their Facebook page.