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"BOWLS ABSOLUTELY SAVED MY LIFE": RON HOMER REFLECTS ON BEM FOR SERVICES TO VISUALLY IMPAIRED BOWLS |
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The 73-year-old was recognised
for his long-standing service as treasurer of Yeovil Visually
Impaired Bowlers Club, a role he held for more than 20 years after
first joining the club in the mid-1990's following the loss of his
sight. For Ron, the honour came as a complete surprise. "I had a letter come through from the Cabinet Office and I thought, 'This is strange'," he said. "I got my daughter to read it and I was absolutely gobsmacked really, and proud that somebody thought of me. "I had to keep my mouth shut, which was hard!" Ron's journey into bowls began during one of the most difficult periods of his life. After suffering a detached retina following an accident, he underwent seven operations, but his sight continued to deteriorate. "When I lost my sight in the mid-90s, I lost my driver's licence and couldn't drive and couldn't work. My whole world collapsed really." Allocated a social worker after losing his sight, Ron was introduced to the possibility of playing visually impaired bowls.  "She came to my house with lots of leaflets and told me there was a visually impaired bowls group in Yeovil if I wanted to have a go," he said. "I knew nothing about bowls. "I remember an uncle of mine, when I was still in short trousers, taking me to bowls, but I didn't return to it until I lost my sight." At the time, Ron was only in his mid-40s and facing an uncertain future. But after plucking up the courage to attend the club, he quickly discovered a sport and community that would transform his life. "I went up there and got the bug," he said, "I loved that it was competitive but also the social side of it, and it gave me a chance to meet so many people who were visually impaired. I had never come across anything like that before. "I was able to share my story and play bowls." Ron believes bowls is uniquely inclusive for visually impaired players. "Apart from the string up the middle for visually impaired people and a director, there are no other differences," he explained. "We play the same formats as everyone else and I really liked that. "Bowls is amazing. I don't know what other sport that you can play the same as everyone else." Over the years, the sport has given Ron not only friendship and purpose, but also opportunities to represent his country around the world.  After initially struggling in competition, he refused to give up. "There was a visually impaired competition at Weston-Super-Mare, and I got beat in every game," he laughed. "But I wanted to go back for more." That determination eventually led to international success. Ron won a silver medal for England in Belfast before claiming gold in his sight category at the International Blind Bowls Association World Championships in New Zealand in 2015. Two years later, he travelled to South Africa and won bronze in the B2 pairs event. Reflecting on representing England, Ron said: "It's amazing. When they play the national anthem and the flag goes up, it's a wonderful feeling and an extraordinary privilege to experience." He will return to New Zealand next year to compete once again at the World Championships and is also looking forward to representing England at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in July. "I'm still surprised that I'm there at my age," he said. "You've got the young ones that come along, but I try and perform as best I can. "I'm lucky enough to still be able to do it." Beyond his achievements on the green, Ron has become a hugely respected figure within the visually impaired bowls community, both through his playing career and his years of voluntary service. "It was only a small club, and the treasurer role came up for vacancy, so I put my hand up and took it on," he said. "I stuck there for 20-odd years."  He also paid tribute to Yeovil Bowls Club for the support they have shown visually impaired bowlers over the years. "They accommodate us and include us," he said. "Three or four of us play against the sighted bowlers as well and they've been really good to us over the years." For Ron, the greatest impact of bowls has always been the sense of belonging it created at a time when he needed it most. "I don't know what I would have done without bowls," he said. "It absolutely saved my life. "It's a wonderful community and I was revived. Everybody sees sight loss differently. Yes, we all trip over or knock over our drinks, but we all laugh about it. "I can talk to people and not have a clue who they are, but all visually impaired players are like that and it's something we have in common which is really lovely. The amount of time I have been speaking to someone after they've said hello, only to realise they were on the phone - you have to chuckle, but I could wite a book." Ron is so humble about the recognition of his BEM, but the award reflects decades of commitment, resilience and service. He will be collecting his award later this year, but this week, both Ron and his daughter Candice were at Buckingham Palace attending one of the King's Garden Parties. Sian Honnor. We' d love to know what bowls means to you, get in touch at info@eiba.co.uk Previous Article - Interview with Charlie Beeton: A Season to Remember |
May 2026
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