THERE was absolutely zero chance of Ken Gloster’s 700th pennant bowls game milestone slipping through the cracks.

Gloster is Bendigo East Bowling Club’s official games record keeper and has been since inheriting the role from J.D. (Jack) Harris in 1985.

Together with Harris’ years of handy work, Gloster can trace the pennant bowling history of every Bendigo East club member since 1961, the division they played in, the team they played against, and also the result.

Scattered throughout the pages of the exercise books he keeps tucked away in his brief case are the details of the club record 699 pennant games he has participated in since his arrival at the club in 1970.

The 89-year-old plays his 700th this weekend in a BBD division three contest at Harcourt.

Testament to his longevity, Gloster has rarely missed a game in his 47 years at the club.

You can sense the disappointment and anguish when he tells of only playing nine games – all of them in division one – in the 1992-93 season.

“Five wash-outs and no finals,” he discloses, before adding, “not the best of years.”

Gloster’s extraordinary involvement with bowls long pre-dates his arrival at Lansell Street.

He played 17 years in his former home-town of Underbool and was the club’s inaugural president in 1955.

Gloster can recall with remarkable clarity his first pennant game and season for the Magpies during the 1970-71 season, especially the fact his team won.

“That year I played in division two with the chairman of selectors and went right through to the grand final,” he said.

“We won our game by 14 shots and that covered the other three teams in the section.

“That was the highest pennant (division) Bendigo East had won to that stage.

“We were the (club) heroes that night.”

His resume is as lengthy as the club’s honour boards.

Gloster has served 26 years on the club’s committee (1979-2005), was president in 2003-04 and vice-president in 1984-85, and been a pennant selector for 17 seasons, most of them spent as chairman.

He is the co-manager of the Friday night pairs competition and has been since its inception 17 years ago and been a side captain for more than 30 years and registered umpire for 42.

More than 500 of Gloster’s games have been played at division one or two level.

His sole division one appearance in 2016-17 came 22 seasons after he last represented East in the top grade.

It goes without saying he is a life member at Bendigo East as well as the Bendigo Bowls Division, for which he has served as treasurer (27 years), association recorder (28 years) and executive (27 years).

A recipient of the Medal of Merit – the highest award bestowed by the Royal Victorian Bowls Association, Gloster was further honoured in 2012 when the top award for services to the BBD was named in his honour.

Gloster said it was hard to put a price on how much the club meant to him.

“The club means a lot to me as it does to a lot of people,” he said.

“We often say what would we do without the club … in fact my late wife talked me into buying a unit straight across from the club so I could go over and back.

“She knew that after she died I would have the club here and it would be of great benefit to me.

“Every day, even during winter, we have a coffee club here, where a dozen of us members meet here at 10’o’clock.

“You look forward to the companionship … the friendship on the bowling green is what it’s all about.”

The club games record holder nominated Alan Lockett, who won four straight East club championships from 1981-82 to 1984-85 andmultiple champion of champions, as the undoubted best bowler he had seen in his nearly 50 years in Bendigo.

“I was fortunate enough to play three years as his third and he was just brilliant – I don’t think there was anyone like him,” he said.

“He won everything about the place when he was at Bendigo and when he shifted across to our club that’s when we started to win pennants.

“Tommy Barri was also a member here and he was a very good bowler.”

Bendigo East secretary Rob Clough did not hesitate in labelling Gloster as “the heart and soul” of the club.

“He is always available to help around the club with everything from peeling potatoes, running tournaments, providing historical information, advice on administrative issues to instruction on what bowl should be played on the green,” he said.

“He does all this with a sense of fairness and without bias.

“As well he is an excellent lawn bowler.”

East will formally recognise Gloster with an afternoon tea at the club this Sunday from 2pm-4pm.

Players, officials and supporters from all BBD clubs are invited.