Ioana Marinca

Newquay West End Bowls Club playing at their location above the Newquay harbour, in Cornwall, Western England.
Newquay West End Bowls Club playing at their location above the Newquay harbour, in Cornwall, Western England.

I was in Cornwall in September 2023. On a surprisingly warm Saturday morning I went for a long walk and stumbled across the Newquay West End Bowls Club where Alan, who looks after the club, gave me a little background to the proceedings. An important round, a regional quarterfinal if I’m not mistaken.


Despite having no real clue to the rules, I enjoyed the pace of the proceedings and must’ve spent an hour there. A small audience watched from the sidelines, including a dog who started barking as soon as I got near. His owners assured me he'd settle down and is harmless, so I quickly sat on the bench furthest from them - before realising it was covered in water. 


I’m not sure how I’d feel about a funeral director sponsoring my social or sports club. But when Alan turned up with a tray of buns his wife had just baked and generously offered me one, I regretted two things: not belonging to a group like this, and my new gluten free diet.

Newquay West End Bowls Club playing at their location above the Newquay harbour, in Cornwall, Western England.
Newquay West End Bowls Club playing at their location above the Newquay harbour, in Cornwall, Western England.
Newquay West End Bowls Club playing at their location above the Newquay harbour, in Cornwall, Western England. Proceedings sponsored by a local funeral director.
Newquay West End Bowls Club playing at their location above the Newquay harbour, in Cornwall, Western England. A young man balances a bowls ball on his right foot.
Newquay West End Bowls Club playing at their location above the Newquay harbour, in Cornwall, Western England. Alan, who looks after the club, chats to a member of the public.
Newquay West End Bowls Club playing at their location above the Newquay harbour, in Cornwall, Western England.
Newquay West End Bowls Club playing at their location above the Newquay harbour, in Cornwall, Western England. Alan has now put his team colours on, which perfectly match the buns his wife has just baked.
Newquay West End Bowls Club playing at their location above the Newquay harbour, in Cornwall, Western England. Local surf schools giving lessons on the beach just underneath.
Using Format