A bowling club has celebrated its ‘much waited’ 50-year anniversary with a big game.

The Chalfont St Giles Bowling Club welcomed The Chelsea Pensioners bowls team from London for a long-waited game to celebrate 50 years since the Chalfont club formed.

Steve Allen from The Chelsea Pensioners was feeling “great” about the game.

“It’s brilliant and you meet some lovely people. Everybody looks after each other,” he said.

Chairman of the Chalfont St Giles Bowling Club Michael Wise, 70, said the club has welcomed ten new members this year, some who were already playing competitively following their training period.

However, the pandemic was “terrible for the club” because many members had to find other ways to keep themselves busy and never returned, Club Secretary Gill Wise, 61, said.

The Chesham and Amersham MP Sarah Green said watching the players come together was “inspiring” and a "privilege." 

“Seeing the signature scarlet jackets is always uplifting. It’s a reminder of what a glue it is for the community,” she added.