MEMBERS of Colgrain Bowling Club in Helensburgh ensured that staff of the Glenarn Ward at Dumbarton Joint Hospital were “bowled over” by the club’s generosity.

Club members presented a cheque for £1,200 to the ward, and to relatives of Mrs Irene Morton, after raising the cash at a recent ‘sportsman’s dinner’.

Irene, Colgrain Bowling Club’s former bar manager, who began working at the club in the early 1990s, became a resident of the Glenarn Ward in 2017 when she was diagnosed with dementia.

The donation followed a dinner attended by many members and friends of the club on October 27, which included speeches by former rugby player and coach Bruce Aitchison and ex Motherwell and Morton footballer John Gahagan, both of whom have firmly established themselves among the top speakers on Scotland’s after-dinner circuit.

As well as the two guests’ speeches, the evening included many fund-raising activities sponsored by club members and friends, all overseen by local man John Doran, who was the event’s master of ceremonies.

On Thursday, December 6, Colgrain club president Robert Cavana, supported by members Donald McWalters, George Kirkpatrick and Henry Ellis, attended Glenard Ward, Dumbarton Joint Hospital where they presented Staff Nurse Joan Lees with a cheque for £1,200.

This presentation was carried out in the presence of Mrs Irene Morton and her daughters Margo, Lesley and Carol.

Joan said she was delighted to receive the monies and could not thank the members of Colgrain Bowling Club enough, adding that the funds would go towards making the life of all residents of Glenard Ward more comfortable.

Colgrain president Robert Cavana expressed his sincere thanks to all members of the event’s organising committee and said he hoped that the club would hold similar events in the future.