The gentle sport of bowls and Worthing have much in common.

Bowls is very much the domain of the older generation, played predominantly by the over-50s, although younger elements are increasingly taking to the popular pursuit.

Worthing is also regarded as a resort much favoured by the retired classes, although, once again, the expansion of West Durrington has led to a much younger age profile for the town than even a decade ago.

So it came as little surprise when, in 1987, the English Bowling Association (EBA) established its national headquarters in Worthing, near the famous old greens at Beach House Park, off Lyndhurst Road.

Tony Allcock, the new chief executive of the EBA, was born into a bowling family and has been playing the game for as long as he can remember.

This early introduction to the sport by his mother, Joan, county champion of Leicestershire and an England international, paid dividends.

Tony, who at the age of 48 says that he has finally retired, can boast no less than 15 world titles and is the current world champion.

A career spent on the bowling green has done him good, because he looks ten years younger than his birth certificate shows.

The first major challenge of his new posting is the centenary celebrations of the EBA, which is travelling the country before arriving in Worthing on Saturday, August 9, and Sunday, August 10.

The Queen, who has been patron of the association for more than 50 years, has sent her congratulations to the EBA, which was founded in 1903 by WG Grace, who is most famous for his cricketing achievements.

To mark the anniversary, the EBA has organised a series of Test matches featuring the teams of Australia, Canada, the Channel Islands, England, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa, USA and Wales.

Matches will be played at Torquay, Plymouth, Leamington Spa and Gateshead, with the semi- finals and finals at Worthing.

Tony said it was fitting that Beach House Park should stage the climax of the tournament because it was rightfully regarded as the Mecca of men's bowls.

In fact, the town has hosted two World Bowls competitions, the last in 1990 when several dozen teams from all around the world marched along the seafront behind their national flags, dressed in blazers and white hats.

There are no plans for a similar parade this time round but a bust of 'WG' will be unveiled, possibly by a relative of the great man, to mark the milestone.

The tournament is likely to result in thousands of fans visiting the town, resulting in a bonanza for hotels, bed and breakfasts, restaurants, cafes and shops.

Tony, who lives near Arundel, praised the upkeep of the greens in Worthing by the borough council, which contracted out its maintenance service to private operators.

He told a cautionary tale about Bournemouth, which held the largest seaside open tournament in Britain but cut back on spending and suffered a result.

Tony said the Dorset resort no longer commanded the same popularity as a venue for bowls and urged Worthing to learn from its south coast rival's mistakes.

"It is important the greens are okay. A lot of the tourism industry in Worthing is centred on bowls.

"We share a very good relationship with Worthing council. They acknowledge the importance of (maintaining) standards."

Tony admitted that as a player he had a love-hate relationship with Beach House Park, where he had suffered his greatest disappointments but also his greatest triumphs.

He likened the venue to a golf links, with its own seaside idiosyncrasies and traits which could easily catch out unwary competitors.

Tony played his final game in Worthing last July, when he led the England team to victory and since then his woods had been "gathering cobwebs".

From being his own boss for so many years, having given up a career in education 17 years ago to concentrate fully on bowls, he is now "back in harness" answering to an executive board and a chairman.

With a flourish of his hands, he ruled out a return to the game, although one suspects we may see him at least display his talents at invitation or charity matches in the years to come.

But at present he is bedding down as chief executive, endeavouring to unify the various organisations which administer the great old game.

Tony pointed out that bowls was a mass participation sport which everybody could play and his aim was to reinforce to relevant authorities the fact that bowls provided an integral service to the community.

But he added: "We have got to seriously look at the infrastructure of the sport which is there at the moment.

"Bowls is currently split four ways, by gender, by indoor and outdoor, not to mention crown green bowling and other sections such as wheelchair-players and the blind."