A 90-YEAR-OLD was bowled over when he was given a £250 birthday present from his bowling colleagues. Sid Wheatley, of Westmill Road, Hitchin, celebrated his birthday on Saturday and said he was absolutely gobsmacked by the generosity of his friends who

A 90-YEAR-OLD was bowled over when he was given a £250 birthday present from his bowling colleagues.

Sid Wheatley, of Westmill Road, Hitchin, celebrated his birthday on Saturday and said he was "absolutely gobsmacked" by the generosity of his friends who presented a cheque to Tiny's Taxis for them to chauffeur Mr Wheatley to the supermarket each week.

Tiny added £50 to the funds.

Mr Wheatley, who still bowls a couple of times each week, said: "It was a wonderful surprise and it was totally out of the blue, I hadn't a clue.

"I had spoken to a number of people who were aware my birthday was coming up but I had no idea about this.

"The people who play bowls are a very generous and affable group and I've not had a cross word with any of them since I started."

Mr Wheatley began playing bowls when he was 65 and has seen a lot of changes at the club including the recent refurbishment of the clubhouse.

Ian Thorne, a committee member of Hitchin Bowls Club, said Mr Wheatley was liked by everybody.

He said: "He really does enjoy what he's doing. Unfortunately he doesn't bowl as much as he used to but he tries to play as often as he can."

Mr Wheatley has already put his name down to play against Henlow on May 4 in the first game of the new season and is looking forward to carrying on for the next few years.

"It's all fun and not too competitive, it's a nice way to get out and relax in the company of friends," he said.