AN OKEHAMPTON man is bowling again depute having had his leg amputated. Peter Wellman can enjoy his sport again thanks to a new specialised wheelchair bought by the town?s bowling club. Peter, a member of Okehampton Simmons Bowling Club was rushed to hospital in May 2005 with a circulation problem in his left leg. Within 36 hours, he had to have his leg amputated, but was determined he would return to bowling as soon as possible. During the winter, he tried bowling indoors, using a specialist chair with some success. On hearing that 84-year-old Peter was still determined to bowl outdoors, members of Okehampton Bowling Club set about finding the source of such a chair and funding to buy one. Thanks to the generosity of all those approached by the club, they were soon able to obtain the special chair. It will not be for the benefit of Peter alone ? it will be available for use by others who have problems with standing and balance. Peter said he had been bowling for around 15 years, having first been encouraged to try the sport by his grandson. Peter said: ?You meet some lovely people on the bowling green. A good game of bowls outdoors with friendly people has a lot going for it. ?I lost my leg so suddenly, it all came as a bit of a surprise, but now the bowling club to me, is a bit of a lifeline.? Peter said he wanted to thank everyone who had helped the club to get the specialist wheelchairs. He said it was ?absolutely brilliant? to use the chair for the first time recently. Once he had given it a trial, he was back in the team for a friendly match. ?It is so different bowling from a wheelchair as opposed to bowling standing up. You have got to develop a different method for bowling when you are in a chair,? he said. ?It is a good sport, no matter what your age you play bowls.? Peter said he played in one match against a man aged 93, and now that he had his chair, he hoped to be able to look forward to a few more years of playing friendly matches. The club expressed thanks to all who contributed ? without their help, Peter would not have been able to achieve his aim of bowling this summer. Anyone who has a disability and would like to try bowling from the chair, can contact any club member to arrange a trial.
