Tuesday 25th of August 2026 was another wonderful day for a group of 14 Bats. The group took a journey to London to the wonderful and sensory Kew Gardens. Where they were able to take in the sounds, sites and smells of all the different botanical wonders.
A very special shout out to the wonderful driver, Neil, who went above and beyond to look after and make the group laugh the whole day. He really was a credit to Barnes Coaches. It just makes the whole experience so much better to know that we can travel with ease.
Another fabulous Bats day trip!
Inter Company 2026!
Our annual Inter Company Event took place on 18 May 2026 when 7 businesses from Swindon, and beyond, brought 14 teams along to take part in a tenpin bowling tournament. There was a lot of fun and laughter as strikes and spares were scored. Each team consisted of 5 corporate bowlers and one of our visually impaired players. During frames 4, 5, 6 and 7, the sighted bowlers were expected to bowl while wearing simulation glasses to give them an idea of what it is like to be visually impaired. One team, Zurich 2, chose to wear a blindfold so that they had the experience of being blind for a short while. The tournament ended with Arval 1 winning the Tony Martin Memorial trophy.
On Monday 9th March Stuart achieved a personal best of 244! Nine strikes (7 one after another), two spares and one measly 9! John Bowie and Andy scored highly in the same game with scores of 155 and 112 respectively.
Derrick, the only fully sighted player in the game, achieved 88…
Congratulations to Stuart, and commiserations to Georgia, who will have to widen the doors in their flat!
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.
