BARMOUTH’S oldest sports institution has been saved “for at least another 50 years” after a long campaign to renovate the bowling club was successfully completed.

The bowling club, believed to have been built in the 1930s, was at risk of demolition just a few years ago when Gwynedd Council said it could no longer afford to maintain it.

Rather than losing the iconic building, the bowling club’s committee, led by its then-president Bill Gaskill, decided to take on the institution in a bid to save one of Barmouth’s more aged buildings.

The club, which was showing signs of wear and tear after its 80-year history, needed a new roof and restructuring to ensure the building could continue to safely host events and sporting occasions.

After much campaigning, fund-raising and letter-writing, the club managed to raise £23,000 to refurbish the community centre after generous grants from Barmouth Town Council, the Community Investment Fund and other local organisations.

The Barmouth Bowling Club Committee also invested approximately £3,500 of their own funds to save the clubhouse.