90-year-old ten pin bowler celebrates birthday
NORTHCLIFF– Joyce Shelleard celebrates her 90th birthday by playing one of her favourite recreational games with a group of friends from Sonneglans Retirement Villiage.
Few people have the opportunity to live to the age of 90 years old while still being in good health, and regularly participating in fun activities. It is definitely a rare encounter to still be a master at ten pin bowling at this venerable age.
Joyce Shelleard celebrated her birthday on 9 September with a bang by participating in one of her favourite pastimes, ten pin bowling with a group of her close friends who enjoy the game as much as her. Shelleard currently resides at Sonneglans Retirement Village with her friends who were in attendance at Let’s Go Bowling in Northcliff. She has been a ten pin bowler for the past 10 years.
“I feel so blessed and it is exciting to celebrate my birthday today. I have wonderful family and friends that have made my life truly special,” she said. Her friend for 17 years, Lorraine Free, who is also a resident at Sonneglans Retirement Village, is convinced Shelleard gets better and better at bowling with age. “A group of us, including 16 elderly citizens over the age of 50 years, play ten pin bowling every Wednesday and Friday at Let’s Go Bowling. Joyce actually drove us here,” she said.
The birthday celebration continued at the Sonneglans Retirement Village with a tea party and a musical performance where some members of her family attended. Her granddaughter created memorabilia on cardboard with photographs of Shelleard’s life that depicted her journey.
Shelleard has two children, six grandchildren and six great grand children. Some of them occasionally join her at ten pin bowling. “I believe the secret to life is to love, keep up with the younger generation, keep smiling and to always see the best in everyone,” she concluded.
