Bowls champion Roy reunited with former club

The 93 year old champion lives at the Hyllden Heights care home in Hildenborough

A bowls champion whose 30-year long dedication to the sport was cut short by osteoarthritis has been reunited with his passion thanks to the support of staff at his care home.

Roy Kohlbeck, 93, has decades’ worth of trophies and medals in his room at Hyllden Heights care home on Tonbridge Road, but hadn’t played for the last two years because of the condition.  After Roy moved into the 76-bedroomed home in April, the staff learned about his hobby and the difficulties that prevented him from playing.  Since then, he’s been having regular physiotherapy to help with his joint movement and his mobility.  He’s made such an improvement that he’s been able to return to the Angel Indoor Bowls Club at the Angel Centre on Avenue Le Puy. 

“I’m so grateful to the staff here,” said Roy.  “I love seeing my friends and it’s wonderful to be able to play again.  I really missed not being able to come to the club, it’s been part of my life for so long.”

Hyllden Heights is a purpose-built care home offering residential, nursing, memory and respite care.  The lifestyles team now take Roy to the club every other week to play.  Head of Lifestyles, Sam Allen, said personalised activities make a substantial difference to residents’ quality of life.

“Roy brought quite a big collection of trophies with him when he moved here so it was pretty obvious what a part bowls played in his life,” she said.  “He used to play alongside his late wife, and then on his own, both at Hadlow Bowls Club and at the Angel Centre, where he was even awarded a lifetime honorary membership because of his dedication to the sport.

“Osteoarthritis effects most of his joints but particularly Roy’s arms and hands which had stopped him from playing bowls.  We were determined to help him get back there.”

As well as one-to-one physiotherapy, Roy has also been benefiting from the home’s activity classes, including chair aerobics, yoga and Roy’s favourite, Drum Fit, where he and his fellow residents beat out rhythms with drumsticks on giant inflatable balls.

“The movement is really beneficial for Roy’s osteoarthritis because it helps lubricate the joints and strengthen the muscles,” said General Manager and registered nurse, Karen Pain.  “Having his eye on the goal of being able to play bowls again has been a great motivator!”

Other residents from the home make the fortnightly journey in its minibus to the Angel Centre, and the group stop for coffee and a chat, as well as a spot of fierce competition.

“I wasn’t sure I would be able to play bowls again,” added Roy. “It’s a complete joy to me to be able to do what I love, with my friends old and new!”