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BALERNO BOWLING CLUB

HISTORY IN THE MAKING? …AND REPEATED!

Readers who think Balerno Bowling Club goes into hibernation during the close season couldn’t be more wrong! Since the last edition of the C&B News, members and guests have enjoyed a whole variety of entertaining activities. Of particular significance to the bowlers were the respective Annual Presentations of Prizes for the Gents’ and Ladies Sections in November. Pride of place at the Ladies’ Section dinner and dance went to Helen Girdler who celebrated her fifth win as Ladies Champion. Helen who has many years of bowling ahead of her is well on the way to equalling and surpassing the Club record for Ladies Championship wins. Jessie Downie the current record holder with six wins wished Helen well then said with a wry smile and a twinkle in her eye “….but she’s still got one to get !” After a great meal, the ladies took full advantage of their ‘Girls Night Out!’
Unfortunately, illness prevented Grant Wilson picking up his third Championship trophy at the Gents’ prizegiving. Grant has some way to go to match Laurie McMorran’s record of 6 wins but he too should have many years of bowling ahead of him. Pride of place at the Gents’ Dinner and Cabaret went to 19 year old Dean McNeill who was awarded a special trophy for winning the Water of Leith Junior Singles title with a 21-10 win over junior Scotland cap Gary Connelly of Sighthill BC. Dean’s achievement was historic and all the sweeter because the official trophy already contained the name of his dad David McNeill who won the competition in 1980 and 1983.              .
For a number of years a lack of competitors meant Dean was unable to win the Club’s Junior Singles title. However, the Club was delighted to present trophies to new Junior members – David Smith who won both the Under 16 Championship and the Target Bowls competitions, Jack Napier and Aidan Mannion the respective Runners up and to Sean McMenagell whose commitment and enthusiasm won him a special award. Hopefully, all our new young members (and their friends?) will be ‘champing at the bit’ to get back on the green when the new season starts in April.
It is worth noting that the food for each of these events was prepared and served by the other Section. Perhaps I’m biased but even Morag Moffat who was experiencing for the first time the delights of the Gents’ cooking (mainly in this case by George O’Reilly) was moved to write on behalf of the Ladies to congratulate us not only on the quality of the meal but the attentiveness and humour of the waiters. The Club is indebted to both teams – who were marshalled by Hugh Watt and Essie Stoddart – for their splendid work.
Thanks in the main to Social Secretary Ron Duguid and a number of others, members and guests have been able to enjoy carpet bowling (Monday evenings), weekly Dance tuition and practice (led by Sandra Duguid on Wednesday evenings), bingo (Wednesday afternoons and Thursday and Sunday evenings), darts (run by Kenny Girdler on Thursday evenings), Folk nights (hosted with Balerno Folk Club on the last Tuesday of the month) and Cabaret Nights (on the last Saturday of the month). My particular favourites were the return of folk duo Gaberlunzie, the incredible singing and comedy duo ‘The Two Divas’ and the Hogmanay Disco Ceilidh where the sight of members and guests dancing The Dashing White Sergeant to ‘techno / dance’ music after a splendid buffet prepared by the Ladies’ Section was worth the admission price alone. Members and guests are looking forward to forthcoming attractions that include tribute acts to Queen, Elvis, Abba, to the return of the McCalmans and to an appearance by 60s/70s singing star Christian.
Unfortunately, winter does not come alone and the Club was shocked and saddened by the recent deaths of Joan White, Bobby (Growlie) Marshall and Honorary Member Alan Rankin. I hope to pay tribute to them in future articles.
All of this presupposes that we shall get enough members to step up to the plate and fill the posts of Office Bearers and Committee Members at the Club’s Annual General Meeting on 20 January. I’m sure we shall because we owe it to those I have just mentioned and to all those in the community who through our members access our facilities (for christenings, birthdays, anniversaries and music festivals) to continue to run an active, vibrant and successful Club.

CHARLIE HUSBAND OBE
Vice President and Secretary