Jean and Richard reap the benefits of their retirement hobby: bowling
While the physical and mental health advantages of hobbies are widely talked about, one important aspect that can get overlooked is the social benefit. For 79-year-old Jean Whittaker and her 82-year-old husband Richard, pursuing their passion for playing bowls later in life has led to lifetime of friendship and love.
The couple met seven years ago at a local bowls club in Pembrokeshire, Wales, while getting over the loss of their partners. They’d been playing bowls for several years at that point which meant they already had something in common. In 2022, the couple moved to Fussells Court, a McCarthy Stone Retirement Living development in Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset and got married later that year.
Retirement hobbies from 51 keep people feeling young
Both Richard and Jean first began playing bowls in their early 50s – and they’re not the only ones. According to a recent study by McCarthy Stone, 51 is the average age we are most likely to spark a new interest or hobby, with over half (57 percent) of the 2,000 Brits we surveyed agreeing that hobbies help keep them feeling young*.
Jean and Richard relish the competition…
Jean says, “I’ve been a member of three clubs since I started playing bowls and have represented all three in various competitions and leagues. I won the women’s senior club competition in Tenby, Wales”.
“My highlight this year is competing in the Women’s Triples Championship, which is held by the English Indoor Bowling Association (EIBA), the national governing body for indoor level green bowls. My two friends and I won the regional competition in Somerset which meant we made it through to the national finals in Nottingham, where we came joint third – we were over the moon! Richard has also played in competitions and had similar success, we’ve both done very well and I’m so proud of what we’ve achieved.”
“It’s the same with any hobby, once you get into something, you soon fall in love with it,” Richard says. “One of the reasons we enjoy it so much is that we’re both extremely competitive, it’s in our nature. It’s also good exercise for us and it’s nice simply to do something that you’re good at. Not least, it helps keep our minds sharp with it being a game of skill.”
…but it’s the companionship that makes it special
“But it’s not all about the winning. It’s about making new friends and being part of a like-minded community”, says Jean. “When I first lost my husband, I felt quite lonely. Luckily, the bowls club took me under their wing, they were so lovely to me and treated me like family. Every bowls club that I’ve been a member of has had that same level of camaraderie. In fact, the great thing about being part of a bowls club – or any sports club for that matter – is the sense of belonging; it’s like being part of one big happy family.”
“I’ve always loved doing sport and have been a part of various teams over the years, from cricket to golf and football,” shares Richard. “With it being a relatively low-impact activity, I think bowls tends to be the obvious progression as you get older, however, I still get the same level of enjoyment out of it.”
Showing no sign of jacking it in, the pair continue to play bowls at St Andrew’s Bowling Club, located a short 10-minute drive from their retirement community.
“It’s a highly competitive club. We even have one young lady who is a bowls English champion, which just goes to show the top level of talent there,” notes Richard.
Jean adds: “Bowling is a huge part of our lives, it’s something we’ve both always been committed to, so we feel incredibly lucky that we’re able to continue doing something we both love. I think it’s fair to say we lead a good life.”
If one hobby wasn’t already enough, Jean is also a keen artist.
“I’ve never been formally taught how to paint, but it’s something that I love doing. I’ve created various watercolour and acrylic paintings over the years, the House Manager at Fussells Court, Sharon, even has some hanging in her office. I do occasionally sell them from time to time if anyone has a specific request, but for the most part, I just do it for fun.”
From boosting brain power to higher happiness hobbies make life better
The benefits of retirement hobbies are said to include boosting brain power, staving off depression, and increasing health and happiness in people over 65. McCarthy Stone’s research revealed that 72 percent of people said they feel happy when doing their hobbies, while 40 percent feel engaged, and 24 percent feel like they’re making the most of life. Over half (53 percent) of those polled saying they still wish they had more hobbies and 53% of those aged 65 plus also said they feel more active now compared to any age before. Get inspiration from our 5 most popular retirement hobbies for retirees.
Hobbies are key to our McCarthy Stone communities
McCarthy Stone retirement communities provide the perfect base to carry out retirement hobbies with new friends. Our communal facilities soon blossom into social hubs—a hive of informal gatherings and regular clubs and events to suit all interests. Some developments offer arts and craft rooms and sports facilities too. And with options in sought-after locations across the UK, you’re bound to find the right property for you.
Find a retirement home for sale or rent near you today or call us on 0800 201 4811 to speak with a friendly member of our team.
*This research was commissioned by McCarthy Stone and conducted by Perspectus Global during April 2024.
