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THE BEGINNING OF THE END

Happy New Year to our members, my regular reader and those in adjacent Bowling Clubs who kept asking me during the bowling season what I was going to write about them next. As I only tend to write about them when one of our teams beat them I’m hoping to make many mentions of Currie, Juniper Green, Colinton etc. this year! In all seriousness, I would like to wish our bowling friends everywhere all the best in 2012. By the time you read this we shall only be 8 or so weeks away from the start of the season and I for one can’t wait – especially as I walk past our green during what so far has been a relatively mild winter. A lot of work has been put in during the close season to try to get the green back to the condition it enjoyed a couple of years ago when we were able to confidently host major games…and it is looking good!.

Once again we have enjoyed a busy period at the Club over the festive period and my thanks go to all our members who made our Hogmanay Disco / Ceilidh and our fireworks display on 1st January such memorable occasions.

Come February, I will have ended my three – year spell as President. It has been a great pleasure and honour to serve the Club for that time and I hope members will accept I have not caused it any irreparable damage! Fortunately, I have had the support of terrific Committees and I am delighted that most have agreed to carry on in 2012. For those who are leaving the Committee this year I offer my eternal gratitude for all their efforts. I hope they will be succeeded by members of similar character and commitment although anyone in the voluntary sector will know just how difficult it is to find willing volunteers these days. Perhaps those who have most to say in the Clubhouse about what the Committee should / should not be doing will step forward?

Unfortunately, the one constant during my time in office and my penning of these articles has been a reference to the passing of one or more of our members. Sadly, since I last wrote, the Club has been rocked by news of the deaths of long serving member Bill Grieve – a first class bowler and excellent accordionist – and of Anthony Patterson, a loyal Club supporter. Our thoughts and prayers stay with their families and friends over this difficult time.  
I finish hoping the Club will continue to show how valuable an asset it can be to the Balerno community!

CHARLIE HUSBAND OBE
Club President