Skip to content

Club to get bowls rolling again after arson attack

John Devine
BBC News, Cambridgeshire
Reporting fromMarch
John Devine/BBC A woman with shoulder-length blonde hair parted in the middle at the top of her forehead. She is wearing a grey woollen jumper. Behind her is some of the burnt and charred equipment that was damaged by the arson attack.John Devine/BBC
Sheridan Wheeler initially thought the arson attack would end all bowls activity at the club

A sports club is ready to get the bowls rolling again after suffering an arson attack earlier this year.

About £27,000-worth of equipment was damaged at March Con Bowls Club when fire ripped through three storage sheds on New Year's Day.

Sheridan Wheeler, treasurer of the Creek Road club, said she was "thrilled by the generosity of locals".

She said that although more fundraising needed to be done, the club would be back in action when the new season starts in May.

John Devine/BBC Three burnt and rusty petrol lawn mowers badly damaged by an arson attack. The mowers are in a field of grass with some wooden fences visible behind them.John Devine/BBC
Equipment in the sheds was destroyed during the fire

Ms Wheeler said members were "absolutely devastated" by the arson.

"The fire took equipment, tools, woods, our storage sheds, and a large ride-on mower was stolen, too," she said.

Ms Wheeler set up a fundraising drive which has so far raised almost £1,500.

John Devine/BBC A man with short dark hair is wearing a blue fleece padded hoodie with white lining and a black T-shirt. Behind him are the burnt and charred remains of a wheelbarrow in a grass field.John Devine/BBC
Rob Webb said the bowls club was not only about keeping fit but about socialising, too

Rob Webb, 67, said he "felt like crying" when he heard about the attack.

"I thought that my bowls career was over, but hopefully we have pulled it around and we will be back in May," he said.

He said that because the mowers were either stolen or burnt, the groundsman was having to cut the green with a small domestic mower, which was "taking all day".

Cambridgeshire Police said the case had been filed "pending further investigative opportunities coming to light".

Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.

Related stories