David Jones has been playing bowls for only six years but it’s fair to say he is a quick learner because he is in his third year as chairman of Overbury Bowling Club.

His first two years as the main man were badly affected by the lockdowns but he is looking forward to “getting back to normality” this year.

And a special year it is too because the club are celebrating their diamond jubilee.

The 78-year-old describes himself as an “average bowler”, although he was good enough to get into the club’s triples A team last year so clearly knows what he is doing on the green.

“I took up the sport quite late in life,” he said. “But I was quite fortunate because although I missed the club’s open day the year I joined, I called in on the off-chance and the club welcomed me with open arms. I took to it straight away.”

So what is it about bowls, and Overbury Bowling Club in particular, that Jones likes so much?

“It’s a superb location and they are a great bunch of people,” he said. “It’s a great place to socialise, have a drink and get some exercise; they are a good crowd.”

Up until a year ago Jones lived in Teddington, which isn’t far from the bowls club, but he has since moved back to Cheltenham, the place where he was born.

The one-time Cheltenham Grammar School pupil, who worked as a telecoms engineer, was a keen squash player back in the day – “That was my game,” he said – and also enjoyed a lot of walking.

He plays bowls two or three times a week and while he hasn’t played squash for a long time now, he doesn’t do so much walking these days either.

“Only behind the mower,” he chuckled. “Mowing the green is a good long walk. We mow it three times a week. Fortunately there is a team of us who do it so it works out at about one day a month each.”

And it’s obvious that he and the other members are only too happy to do their bit for the club that is such a big part of their lives.