National Volunteer Award April – Grangemouth Railwaymen Bowling Club Members
The latest winners of the Bowls Scotland National Volunteer Awards are a group of members from Grangemouth Railwaymen Bowling Club, who have been recognised for their quick thinking, teamwork and compassion after helping to save the life of a fellow club member who suffered a cardiac arrest on the green.
Kevin Bye, Robert Niven, Daniel Gibney, Garry Binnie, Iain Bye and Jonathon Niven were nominated after they worked together to assess the situation, call for emergency help, retrieve and use the club’s defibrillator, perform CPR and support their friend, Stewart, until paramedics arrived. Thanks to their actions, Stewart was taken to hospital, received treatment and has since begun his cardiac rehabilitation, with the club delighted to see him back enjoying bowls again.
What started as a normal evening at the club quickly became a frightening and emotional situation. Kevin Bye, who is a trained nurse, described his initial reaction as one of shock and concern, but said instinct quickly took over: “It was a frightening situation to witness, but instinct quickly took over and I knew I had to act fast to help. Despite the panic, I focused on what needed to be done to give my friend the best chance of survival.”
For the group, the close bond they had built through bowls played an important role in how they responded. The members involved are used to playing together, communicating clearly on the green and working as a team, and those qualities proved vital when Stewart needed help. Kevin explained that everyone stayed calm, listened and worked together effectively, with roles quickly allocated across the group: “People nearby were guys that I regularly play with and are familiar with. I assessed who was there, knew their skills and allocated roles quickly, calling emergency services, starting CPR, retrieving equipment like the defibrillator and noting times and observations. Clear communication ensured nothing was missed and helped us respond as efficiently as possible.”
That sense of teamwork was also highlighted by Daniel Gibney, who said the group were able to remain calm and communicate in a way that felt familiar from their time playing bowls together: “We were able to talk calmly and concisely, like we do when we play bowls together, to deliver the life-saving care we could to our friend. We lost little time in getting the defib and summoning paramedic help while performing CPR as a team.”
Robert Niven praised Kevin’s leadership during the incident, comparing the way he directed the group to the role of a skip on the green: “Kevin took total control of the situation and directed each of the team in helping to basically revive Stewart. Kevin acts as a skip for pairs, triples and rinks bowling teams, so he effectively decides what shots he expects the other players to play for the benefit of the team.” At a club like Grangemouth Railwaymen BC, that trust and familiarity made a real difference, with Jonathon Niven describing the club as a close-knit community where everyone knows one another and was willing to do whatever was needed: “We are a close-knit club, a big family. Everyone knows one another and was happy for Kevin to take charge as he is a respected member and knows what he was doing.”
Although several members had previous CPR training, Garry Binnie said the reality of being involved in a real emergency was very different from any training session: “I have had CPR training annually for over 40 years but it doesn’t prepare you for the real thing, but it is amazing how once you start, it all kicks in automatically.”
When the group later found out that Stewart was going to be okay, the emotion of the situation truly began to hit home. Kevin described feeling an overwhelming sense of relief and gratitude, knowing that their actions, along with the work of the paramedics, had helped save their friend’s life: “It really brought home how important quick thinking and teamwork can be in critical situations. All I wanted to do was see him alive because all I could remember was his lifeless face and body.” For Robert, being able to update the wider club membership and reassure everyone that Stewart was recovering also brought huge relief: “After visiting Stewart the next day, it also allowed me to reassure everyone that he was going to make a full recovery.”
Iain Bye summed up the emotion felt by the group, saying: “I was nearly in tears because we managed to keep him alive. It’s great to see him back and enjoying bowls again.”
The incident has left a lasting impact on everyone involved, but it has also highlighted an important message for bowling clubs across Scotland: access to a defibrillator and basic CPR training can save lives. Kevin said the experience showed just how important it is for clubs to be prepared, adding: “I would strongly encourage all bowling clubs to have access to a defibrillator and ensure members are trained in CPR and emergency response. Even basic knowledge can make a life-saving difference.”
Robert echoed that message, saying the team’s quick intervention and the use of the club’s defibrillator were crucial: “I’m sure that the team’s quick intervention saved Stewart’s life that night. We used the club’s defibrillator and this proved to us what an amazing piece of equipment this is.” Jonathon also stressed the importance of clubs having lifesaving equipment in place, particularly given the average age profile across the sport: “The importance of bowling clubs having a defib machine and regular CPR training cannot be stressed enough. Without the defib the outcome could have been very different.” Iain added a clear message for clubs throughout the country: “Every club should be encouraged to get a defib and provide training for CPR. It is a lifesaver.”
This National Volunteer Award recognises an extraordinary act of courage, care and teamwork from Kevin, Robert, Daniel, Garry, Iain and Jonathon. Their actions showed the very best of the bowls community, not only as players and club members, but as friends who were there for someone when it mattered most.
Huge congratulations to the members of Grangemouth Railwaymen Bowling Club on behalf of everyone at Bowls Scotland for receiving this thoroughly deserved National Volunteer Award.
Their story is a powerful reminder of the strength of the bowling community, and the life-saving difference that preparation, teamwork and quick action can make.