Friendly effort boosts charity

Indoor bowls enthusiasts ranging in age from 16 to 84 who play only for fun and to raise money for charity, have finished another winter season with 15 wins and only one defeat.

Indoor bowls enthusiasts ranging in age from 16 to 84 who play only for fun and to raise money for charity, have finished another winter season with 15 wins and only one defeat. In the process they raised �551 for the East Anglian Air Ambulance, writes Peter Bird.

Fakenham Gallow Sunday Friendly team have raised over �3,000 for the charity in the past four years with a pool of some 60 players contributing to their 16-strong weekly team. They suffered their only defeat to Lynnsport at home, although they had their revenge by beating them at Lynn.

But to captain Phillip Edge that is not the important part of the story. As a special constable with 37 years of experience, he has seen at close hand on many occasions the life-saving work performed by the Air Ambulance's two helicopters. “That's why we chose them to benefit from our money-raising,” he said.

They raise funds at every home match and this year over 300 prizes were donated by local companies and individuals. The work collecting and organising the fundraising is done by John and Margaret Hendry. Their many score of contributors range from such as Dow Chemicals to RAF Marham and the USAF at Lakenheath and Mildenhall.

“The money is important but the winning and losing is not,” said Phillip Edge. “We play purely for the enjoyment and the social side of the sport.”

Pictured are some of the members of the fundraising Gallow Sunday Friendly bowls team.

John and Margaret Hendry are on either side of captain Phillip Edge (centre back with moustache).