When Alan Garrett was struck by a series of four strokes, he was rendered paralysed down his left side.
But his extraordinary determination and courage has been key to the left-hander learning to become a useful indoor bowls player – with his right hand.
Alan (82) is now a member of two league teams at Spalding Indoor Bowls Club and considers the sport a lifeline to him, both physically and socially.
“It’s transformed my life,” he said. “People say to me that they can’t walk or they can’t do this or that and I tell them that they ought to take up indoor bowls.
“When I was recovering from my strokes, a friend of mine, Graham Jones, asked if I’d like to go and watch him play at Spalding IBC.
“That was just before a ten-week course of instruction on how to play began and I got into it through that.”
Alan admits paying the price of being a heavy smoker earlier in his life. For years he would buy up to 60 cigarettes a day, although the former kitchen fitter was prone to only smoking half of each one before letting it burn out.
Then at a dance one Christmas Eve he was suddenly struck by breathlessness during a waltz with wife Beryl. He vowed there and then to give up smoking.
However, it was some years later, in 2002, that he suffered the first of four strokes.
The first came whilst driving to see family in Cornwall. Six months later, a mild stroke had more serious consequences as it caused him to drive his car into another vehicle near his Sutterton home.
He also broke an arm in that accident and needed an operation the following day to have a metal plate inserted.
However, just after coming out of theatre he suffered a major stroke. A third one that week left him without the use of his left side.
Beryl said: “He couldn’t talk and he couldn’t even feed himself. It was a terrible time for us but Alan has always been a very positive man and gradually he learnt to do things with his right hand.”
Alan joined Spalding IBC nine years ago.
Beryl (75) said: “When we first went, they’d arranged a wheelchair for him to use but he said to me ‘I think I can do this without using that’ – and he did.
“It was lovely to see.
“He still needs plenty of sit-downs during a game but indoor bowls remains his only exercise because he can’t walk far.”
Alan’s health meant he had to give up driving, which remains a deep regret for him.
“The one thing he says most days is that he wishes he could still drive”, said his dedicated wife, who suffers from arthritis. “I take him everywhere now, but it’s a shame because he was a good driver – far better than I’ve ever been.”
She added: “The reason Alan had those strokes is because he was a smoker. The artery on the right side of his neck was blocked solid.”
Aided by playing bowls regularly, Alan’s mobility continued to improve slowly. He’s still unable to raise his left hand higher than his shoulder, but is thankful for the new lease of life which joining Spalding IBC has given him.
He plays for one team of over-50s team and another which has players aged from 14 upwards.
Alan said: “I would thoroughly recommend indoor bowls and Spalding Indoor Bowls Club to anyone, not only for the exercise but to meet new friends. There’s great camaraderie.”
