‘Relaxing’ sport just the ticket

Ron Robertson (left) and Jim Wilson at the Gisborne Bowling Club, where they enjoy the camaraderie that goes along with a game of bowls. Ray Young, at Kahutia, and Jeff Davis, at Poverty Bay, enjoy the social side of the sport, too, but it also appeals to their competitive instincts (see stories opposite). Tim and Ginny Sherriff, at the Gisborne club, wish they had started playing bowls 20 years ago.Picture by Liam Clayton

Jim Wilson took up bowls less than two years ago.

He and his wife Jean came to New Zealand in 1965.

A native of Ardrossan, on the North Ayrshire coast in south-western Scotland, Jim served his apprenticeship as a shipwright at a yacht slip on the Clyde, and was keen to emigrate. When he learned a job had been arranged for him in New Zealand with Gisborne builders Story and Lomas, Jim found building work on Scottish council houses to prepare.

Once here, he spent 20 years as a carpenter, 14 years in the freezing chambers at the Kaiti freezing works and five years selling insurance.

Now retired, and widowed, Jim enjoys the camaraderie and social side of bowls. He joined the Gisborne club after he was invited along by a member of the City of Gisborne Highland Pipe Band, for whom he has been secretary/treasurer for 11 years.

“When he introduced me to the bowlers, he said, ‘Jim wants to join the club’,” Jim said.

“I found everyone very friendly, and it’s a nice relaxing game. Sometimes it just takes someone to give you that little bit of support.”