Handy veterans from Renfrewshire have been busy putting together a special commemorative bench gifted to a bowling club.
A group from Sight Scotland Veterans wanted to say thank you to Hawkhead Bowling Club, having enjoyed playing there in the past.
It comes as the veterans prepare to return to the club for the first time since Covid-19 restrictions were lifted.
The commemorative bench, which was made during woodwork sessions, was gifted to representatives from the bowling club during a presentation at Sight Scotland Veterans’ Hawkhead Centre.
One of the veterans, Tommy Carruthers, said: “We absolutely love going up to the bowling club, and before covid we were up there any chance we could.
“We have always been made so welcome and cannot wait to go back in April.
“When we go to the club, we always bring a pack lunch and eat outside sitting on one of the benches.
“This is where the idea first came from to create a commemorative bench for the club. We wanted to do something to say thank you for all the hospitality they have given us over the years.
“It will be great to think when the bowling season starts again, that we can all go back up and actually sit on the bench we have made.”
Tommy, who was a Lance Corporal in the army, has been attending the Hawkhead Centre since it opened.
He loves the woodwork classes as they allow him to keep doing a passion he thought he would never be able to do again when he lost his eyesight.
Tommy was helped to make the bench by fellow army veterans Peter Ramsay and Jim Stevenson.
Alison Gray, deputy centre manager at the Hawkhead Centre, said: “We are always looking for opportunities to be involved within our local community.
“The veterans love their visits to Hawkhead Bowling Club and this was a brilliant way of showing their gratitude to the club who we have such a wonderful relationship with. The bowling visits are always very popular, and it is great to see the camaraderie and friendships which have blossomed between our veterans as a result.”
Executive chair of Hawkhead Bowling Club, Moira Bryan, said: “We are looking forward to welcoming the veterans again when the bowling season starts in April.
“Our bowling club prides itself on its inclusivity and in the future we may consider introducing a special membership category for people with a visual impairment. We cannot thank the veterans enough for donating the commemorative bench to the club, and we hope as many of them as possible will come down to the club, enjoy a game of bowls and have a seat on the bench at the side of the green.”
The Hawkhead Centre, which opened in 2017, is an activity hub for veterans with sight loss to re-engage in the local community, rebuild confidence and regain or maintain their independence.
For more information about the charity, visit sightscotlandveterans.org.uk
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