Lighting the way to success at Hare Hill Park Bowls Club

Tommy Whittaker holds the Whittaker Challenge Cup, joined by members of Hare Hill Park Bowls Club underneath the new floodlights

Following the installation of new floodlights, Hare Hill Park Bowls Club in Littleborough is attracting major interest in the national bowls world and recently hosted the Great Britain Senior Merits, one of the top tournaments in the UK.

The new lights were given their official switch-on on Friday during the first Whittaker Challenge Cup, a charity bowls match to be held annually in honour of Tommy Whittaker, who was celebrating his retirement as club treasurer on his 85th birthday. Proceeds will go to Springhill Hospice, with a further charity competition planned next year for the same cause.

Tommy, who experienced the most successful season in his 45 years with the club this year, said: “When I first came to the Hare Hill Park we had one small brick building, a green and about 40 members. Now we have over 100 members including two men’s and two women’s teams, and this year we had the all-England team playing here which was a very good day.

“It’s something I’ve always enjoyed doing and I will miss it now I’m retired. My wife has been the one to help me keep going this long, we’ve been married 61 years and she’s a better bowler than I am. Hare Hill Park is not just a bowls club. It a wonderful social club and does a lot for the community – it’s always a team effort and everybody’s welcome to play whether they’re young or old.”

The evening was organised by Mark Tolley, Secretary of Hare Hill Park Bowling Club, who said: “This season has been possibly the best in the club’s history, so Tommy’s really leaving on a high. We have had clubs, leagues and individuals coming from near and far to play under the new lights and the climax was being asked to stage the Great Britain Senior Merits. The event was a huge success, so much so that we are looking at them staging more events in the future.”