As the world's top bowlers prepare to compete in the World Bowls Championships, and selections for Team England at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games are finalised, it is a fitting moment to reflect on the sport's most iconic figure: David Bryant.
The Unmistakable Champion of an Era
For two decades, David Bryant was the dominant force in lawn bowls, a sport that once commanded prime-time television slots and often attracted larger audiences than darts or snooker. With his trademark pipe clenched firmly between his teeth, Bryant cut one of the most recognisable and striking sporting characters of the 1970s and 1980s. He remains widely regarded as the greatest bowler of all time.
His trophy cabinet was a testament to his skill and longevity. Bryant secured an astonishing 15 world titles between 1966 and 1992. His Commonwealth Games record was equally formidable, earning him five gold medals. His dominance began at the 1962 Games in Perth, where he was all-conquering, winning both the singles and fours titles.
A Legacy of Gold and Unbreakable Focus
Bryant went on to claim the Commonwealth singles gold again in 1970, 1974, and 1978. Had bowls been included in the programme for the 1966 Games in Jamaica, he would likely have achieved a historic five consecutive singles victories—a feat no athlete has ever accomplished across five straight Games.
His famous pipe, which he claimed aided his concentration, became a symbol of his unflappable demeanour. "David had a uniqueness of inner strength above any individual in the game," said Tony Allcock, a long-time playing partner and fellow Commonwealth medallist. "He was 100 per cent focused on the job in hand... He could laugh with the opponent and then immediately stand on the mat and deliver an absolute killer of a bowl."
Allcock added that Bryant's individuality "bordered on eccentricity at times," a quality that only added to his public fascination. Beyond the greens, Bryant was a teacher at St Andrew's Junior School in Clevedon and later ran a sports shop in Bristol. His services to sport were recognised with an MBE and a CBE, and he was even named Pipe Smoker of the Year in 1986.
From Legend to Modern Contenders
Bryant retired from competitive bowls in the early nineties and, on his wife Ruth's orders, retired his pipe too, having been a heavy smoker of up to 50g of tobacco daily. His legacy, however, continues to loom large over the sport.
As the World Championships commence this week, the world's top 32 bowlers will compete for the singles title in Norfolk—a prize Bryant won nine times. England's hopes rest on players like third seed Robert Paxton, a 2018 Commonwealth singles bronze medallist, and ninth seed Nick Brett, a triples gold medallist from Birmingham 2022.
Brett experienced a flash of Bryant-like fame five years ago with a miraculous shot that went viral on social media. "I'll always be known as that guy who played that bowl," said Brett. "The pressure is doing it in front of the TV cameras at the big events." While he has some way to go to match Bryant's enduring celebrity, a world title win this month would certainly bolster his reputation.
The current player to beat is Scotland's Jason Banks, who last year became the first to win three titles at the same championships. As a new generation competes for glory, the memory of David Bryant—the pipe-smoking teacher who became a sporting immortal—remains the gold standard against which all are measured.
