A VISUALLY-IMPAIRED youngster who thought he would have to leave his favourite bowls club could soon be back on the green – after the Post stepped in to help.
Because he is only 11-years-old, Curtis Raynor needs a family member to supervise him when he plays at Russell Bowls Club, in Strelley.
His grandfather, Bruce Raynor, 50, was a member of the club and used to accompany Curtis, who is visually-impaired.
But Bruce decided not to renew his membership after the fees they paid were put up from a �10 annual membership, plus a small fee each time they played, to �62 for season ticket holders under 60, or �37 for players over 60.
Curtis wanted to carry on playing and other family members were prepared to go and supervise him.
But Bruce said he was told by the club that every family member who went along to supervise Curtis would have to take out their own membership, or they would not be allowed on the green to help him.
Mr Raynor, of Bilborough, couldn't bring himself to tell Curtis that he wouldn't be able to play any more.
"I told him they were doing something to the green," he said.
Club secretary Shirley Ellis told the Post the club was just following council rules.
"If anybody comes to supervise him, he's got to have a season ticket. It's not my rules. It's the rules the council have made," she said.
"We would welcome him with open arms but he's got to have somebody there with him. We need to encourage children to play bowls, but a member of the family has to supervise him and you've got to have a season ticket to go on the green."
Under-25s indoor bowler Daniel Shields, who previously taught Curtis to play indoors, thought the situation was ridiculous.
However, when the Post contacted Nottingham City Council, the authority said fees would not be necessary.
A Nottingham City Council spokesperson said: "If a family member goes along and isn't playing, there is no charge for that person, even if they might be going on to the green to help him play."
The spokesperson added Curtis would also be eligible for the council's sport buddy scheme, where disabled players can get free supervision.
Curtis, from Aspley, joined the bowls club when he was eight. He has ocular albinism, which affects his field of vision.
Mrs Ellis said she had a meeting with the president and vice president of the club and that Mr Raynor would need to apply in writing before a decision could be made by the committee.
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