KING Alfred Bowling Club on Walney Island got their name from the hotel and pub on Ocean Road.

They are a private club with around 90 members across the ages, from 14 years old to 85 years of age and are always accepting new members.

Every year, the club hosts a charity singles bowls competition. The annual fundraising event started in 1987 to support a local lad who needed a wheelchair and has continued ever since.

In the past, the bowling club has donated to the hospital or the hospice because it likes to give the money to something dear to members’ hearts or a local Walney society.

All the money made from entry fees and raffle tickets is donated to a local charity, and instead of prize money, the competition winner is gifted a meal voucher donated by the King Alfred Hotel restaurant.

This year one of the bowling members noticed that the Vickerstown Junior football team was in need of a new kit, so the club voted to support the team with this year’s charity competition.

They were pleased to donate £300 to ‘Vickerstown junior football’ to help buy a new kit.

Cumbria county regular Martin Barrow and King Alfred’s club stalwart Steve Atkinson made it into the final. Despite a close game, Martin Barrow ultimately won the charity single.

A spokesperson for The King Alfred Bowling Club said: “The first weekend started with a fantastic day of bowls at the King Alfred and was once again a very successful event.

"On a beautiful spring day and on a lovely playing surface, many bowlers showed some early season form.

“The King Alfred Bowling Club would like to thank everyone who took part, everyone who supported throughout the day, including sponsor Martin Williams – Sports Therapist, Keith Mills for an excellent bowling surface, The King Alfred Hotel who donated restaurant vouchers for the winner, everyone who donated food for the kitchen, Martin Barrow and Ian McDonald for organising on the day, Sarah Hogg for organising the raffle, and finally Suzie for working tirelessly in the kitchen.”

The King Alfred Charity Singles took place on Walney’s 100-year-old Crown Green the weekend April 22 and 23.

The Crown Green bowling club have entered 13 teams into all the male and female and senior leagues throughout Furness.