Hilary King

Hilary King was a Welsh bowler who lived from 1931 to September 2024 and is remembered as a pioneer for women in the sport. Born Hilary Pomeroy and raised in Treherbert, the daughter of local shopkeepers, she took up outdoor bowls in the mid 1960s. Although an accomplished player, her main contribution was as an administrator: she held secretary posts with the Treherbert Ladies Outdoor Club, the Glamorgan County Bowls Association, Rhondda Indoor Bowls and the Welsh Ladies Indoor Bowling Association. She became the first woman President of the World Indoor Bowls Council in 2001, was the first woman given its Honorary Life Membership, set up junior tournaments, and was awarded an MBE in the 2008 Birthday Honours.