With all the doom and gloom experienced in 2020, an inspiring story has been delivered at Amanzimtoti Bowls Club (ABC). Before the drama of the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown, Angus Millar, a keen bowler, suffered two strokes. He said he ‘strolled through the first one’ and was back at work at Buffalo Coal within days.
However, shortly afterwards, he suffered a second stroke that floored him. He was admitted to hospital, where it was found that the stroke had damaged the left side of his body, leaving his leg almost lame, as well as his arm. His right leg was fortunately not affected too much and with much perseverance from him, partner Lesley, family and friends, and lots of faith, Angus is mobile through his walker – although it not an easy process.
What he missed most was his bowling and the camaraderie at the club. Dundee Bowling Club president, Greg Conolly believed he could help and called Bowls South Africa, who put him in contact with CE Mobility, a company that deals in wheelchairs. “We were put through to Ashley McIntyre of ABC, who is a paraplegic bowler. He made some calls and located a wheelchair specifically adapted for use on the bowling greens in St Lucia,” said Greg.
The owner of the wheelchair had died before he could use it. His wife wanted it to be passed on to a deserving person and Ashley and his wife June drove to St Lucia to fetch it. When the call for assistance came from Greg, donating the wheelchair to the Toti bowler was the obvious option. So it was a beaming Angus who received the wheelchair from Ashley and June, who delivered it to Dundee on Thursday, 26 November.
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“The tyres on the chair have been made thicker, so as not to damage the green. With a bit of practice, Angus will soon be very comfortable with a wood in his hand,” explained Ashley. And it was not long before Angus was rolling the woods from his chair, with several getting very close to the kitty. “This is such a wonderful gesture. I am so pleased to be able to get out and enjoy the friendship and the sport of bowls – Ashley and June have been too generous.”
Ashley suffered an injury at work in 1986 that left him without the use of his legs. This devastated the all-action man, who is a first Dan karate expert, KZN swimmer, tennis and basketball player, 4×4 enthusiast and past member of the John Rolfe rescue helicopter squad.
“It was a life-changing episode. I wanted to keep active, so I tried out bowls, although I had never played before.” Showing great determination, he pursued the sport and excelled. He has represented South Africa in the Para Olympics in Atlanta and has also turned out for the bowling Proteas in England, Wales and Australia. June McIntyre is an international ‘classifier’ – she is qualified to categorise those with disabilities in terms of their bowling. “It is a matter of adapting. If you put your mind to it, you can do anything – I am sure Angus will be the same,” said Ashley.
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