Arthur Collinge, of St. Clears, has been elected President of the Welsh Indoor Bowls for the year 2012- 2013.

A native of Blackburn, Lancashire, Arthur is a fluent Welsh speaker who recently celebrated his golden wedding anniversary to Mair, who hails from Skewen.

Arthur was educated at Swansea University and Durham University Business School. A former chairman of North Yorkshire Economic Development, Arthur has a wide experience in the field of marketing.

Since retiring, he has been actively involved in the foundation and administration of Indoor Bowls Clubs in Harrogate and Carmarthen.

Arthur said: "I am delighted to be given the opportunity to put something back into the wonderful game of bowls which has given me so much pleasure for over 40 years. At a time of austerity, the game faces tremendous social and economic challenges and its recreational value is often undervalued, particularly to those who for one reason or another cannot play the mainstream sports.

"In spite of this, the Welsh Indoor Bowls Association, led by the Welsh Bowls Federation, has a successful record recently in attracting those who have some level of physical or visual impairment. Body shape is no hindrance in the game of bowls and many have gone on to compete successfully at full International level.The WIBA can be proud of its equal opportunities record."