Tessa Wire on an important milestone for Finchley bowls fans

A large group of people standing in a semi-circle in an indoor bowls venue — Members of Glebelands Indoors Bowls Club celebrate their 35th birthday with mayor of Barnet Danny Rich

A Finchley bowls club has marked major milestone with a birthday celebration attended by the mayor of Barnet.

On Monday, 2nd February, 35 years to the day after it was officially opened, Glebelands Indoor Bowls Club held a celebration attended by councillor Danny Rich.

The club was built in 1990 with a 50-year lease from Barnet Council and was officially opened in 1991 by the then mayor of Barnet, Roy Shutz.

Three and a half decades on, Glebelands remains a thriving hub for sport, friendship and community. Cllr Rich was warmly welcomed by club founder Don Knight, who is still bowling after 35 years, alongside chairman Howard Norden, president Michael Hart and ten inaugural members including veteran club champions, all proudly wearing their club blazers.

Never one to stand on ceremony, the mayor got stuck in on the green, bowling in his socks in line with the club’s strict rule of clean, flat-soled footwear only — even for the mayor! He received a lesson from club coach Rhys Lewis, who neatly summed up the game: bowls takes minutes to learn, but a lifetime to master.

As part of the celebrations, the club held a president v chairman match featuring 60 current members. It proved to be a closely fought contest, with the president’s team narrowly taking the win. In a generous gesture, the winning side donated the day’s green fees to North London Hospice, one of the club’s chosen charities.

In a moving speech, the mayor spoke about the vital role clubs like Glebelands play in the local community. He highlighted how the club is far more than a sporting venue, offering warmth, companionship and support. For members struggling with the cost of living, the heating is always on and a hot meal is available.

Several members told the mayor how the club has given them friendship and a place to go over many years. One 95-year-old member explained that since his wife died a few years ago, he comes to the club every day to meet friends and enjoy a freshly cooked lunch.

The Mayor also met the club’s oldest member, Solly Ohayon, who is 99 years young, and its youngest, 18-year-old Andrew Heneaghan — a powerful reminder of the club’s appeal across generations.

Over 130 members enjoyed a free birthday lunch, with Cllr Rich helping to serve the meal and cut the birthday cake as the whole club joined in singing ‘Happy Birthday’. His relaxed and approachable manner helped everyone feel at ease.

Today, Glebelands Indoor Bowls Club boasts over 400 members, with regular roll-ups and opportunities to compete in competitions, men’s, ladies’ and mixed leagues, accessible sessions for adults with disabilities and matches against other nearby indoor bowls clubs.

After 35 years, the club is still ‘on a roll’ at the heart of Finchley!

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