Happy 20th Birthday to Us!

It’s hard to believe that Swindon Bats is 20 years old!

On 15 February 2006, several visually impaired people met at the Swindon Superbowl (now Tenpin Swindon) to take part in a ‘have a go day’ at tenpin bowling.  This event had been organised by British Blind Sport in conjunction with Wiltshire Blind Association (now Wiltshire Sight).  At the end of this session, six of these visually impaired people (Trevor Johns, Derek Smith, Nicky Newport, Tracey Nash, Russ Riggs and Sue Mead) decided they would like to get together on a weekly basis to play a couple of games of tenpin bowling, and so Swindon Bats was born. 

When choosing a name for the group, there were several suggestions but Swindon Bats was chosen as it was agreed that the group were all as blind as bats!  At that time, there was one carer / helper, Pat Johns (wife of Trevor), who helped in any way she could. 

Later that year, a few more V.I. members of the community (Cliff Moss, Tom Rawlings and Gordon Chapman) joined the group along with another sighted helper, Richard Carver, who still volunteers for us today. 

In June 2007, the group took part in the British Blind Sport Tenpin Winter Fours finals in Sheffield.  They travelled to Sheffield in a coach which was organised to take a V.I. tenpin bowling team from Salisbury as well as Swindon Bats.  This was a national competition and one of our two teams who took part (Derek, Russ, Gordon and Sue) finished in 3rd place. 

In 2011, it became necessary for the group to become registered with the Charity Commission, and Swindon Bats became a charity in it’s own right.  Over the last few years, Swindon Bats has branched out and is getting involved in lots of other activities including lawn and indoor Bowls, Showdown, indoor Kurling, Skittles, as well as enjoying meals out, theatre trips and other social activities. Having begun with 6 visually impaired members, we now have a total of 56 members. 

Long may this small local charity thrive and continue to support visually impaired people in Swindon and the surrounding areas.

Swindon Bats members in Sheffield – 9th June 2007- From left to right: Pete Mead, Richard Carver, Rebecca Pike, Gordon Chapman, Tom Rawlings, Tracey Nash, Derrick Smith, Nicky Newport, Cliff Moss, Sue Mead,Trevor Johns, Pat Johns, Russell Riggs, Sarah Smith.