Roll up for Claremont Park: Neville promotes beloved club at troubled time for bowling

Neville Preston has been a prominent member of Claremont Park Bowling Club, alongside wife Eva, for close to 30 years and felt he couldn’t stand by and do nothing in these troubled times.

All competitive crown green bowling has been abandoned for 2020 because of the pandemic.

And although the plan is for the many Fylde coast leagues to return next year, Neville is concerned that may not be as easy as it sounds and so he has made it his mission to promote the club.

The 85-year-old club vice-president fears that elderly players who have gone 18 months without a game may not find it easy to get back into the bowling habit next spring.

Neville told The Gazette: “Will people come back after getting out of the habit? There are worries that clubs could struggle to restart.

“Some social bowling has been possible this season but a lot of people haven’t bothered because of all the hassle and concerns over Covid.

“There are a lot of restrictions: you have to book, keep sanitising and the clubhouse is closed. Our fear is that people may not come back.

“We are being asked what teams we are going to enter in the leagues next year but that’s difficult because some bowlers are giving up.

“I’m concerned that if greens close they won’t reopen again and will just slip away. We’re proud of our club and don’t want that to happen, so we want to do all we can to promote it.”

Claremont Park, a council-owned green on Warley Road, operated 12 teams last year and Neville has always done his utmost for his club and his sport.

“I used to chair the bowling forum at the council,” he explained, “and Blackpool Council called Claremont Park the jewel in its crown.

“We’re very proud of our club and this year I bought more than 200 plants for the site.”

Bowling has an important role to play in the wellbeing and mental health of many people, which is one reason Neville is committed to its comeback next year.

He added: “This sport is very important for elderly people and we thought we needed to do something to keep it going.

“They talk about people being lonely after losing partners and we have a lot of widows and widowers who really enjoy what the club can provide for them.”

It’s a game in which age can be no barrier – and Neville fondly recalls The Gazette’s visit to Claremont Park a few years ago to honour the late Ron Padgett, who was still bowling at 100 years of age.

Anyone who would like to know more about the club and its plans for 2021 is welcome to contact Neville via [email protected]