AT the most recent World Bowls council meeting in Australia it was unanimously decided that highly respected technical official Ian Munro from Scotland be awarded Life Membership.

Ian has been a member of the World Bowls Laws Committee since 2004, and when a new group was formed to review the Laws of the Sport both in terms of content and layout, Ian was appointed as co-ordinator, a massive task involving countless hours of research and communication done purely on a voluntary basis.

The end result was ‘Laws of the Sport of Bowls, Crystal Mark First Edition’, but since that time there have been two further substantial Law reviews ably coordinated by Ian and the sport is now operating under the ‘Laws of the Sport of Bowls, Crystal Mark Third Edition’.

In addition to his theoretical contribution Ian has also made a practical contribution to umpiring at the highest level. He has officiated as an umpire at numerous World Bowls, Commonwealth Games and World Indoor Championships and in addition was the chief technical official at the Commonwealth Games in 2010 (Delhi) and 2014 (Glasgow).

Along with colleague Alastair Douglas, Ian undertook a task to introduce umpiring to India prior to the 2010 Games, which resulted in ten (10) national certificated umpires assisting international officials at Delhi. Not to be outdone, the duo returned to India in 2017 to run a refresher course as well as an introductory course for new Umpires both of which were most successful.

A keen member at the Linlithgow club in West Lothian, Ian continues to be actively involved as both a trainer and an umpire in Scotland.

Ian Munro’s contribution to Umpiring and the Laws of the Sport has been immense over many years and he is a much deserving new Life Member of World Bowls.

Photo: Chief executive Gary Smith bestows World Bowls life membership on Ian Munro.