Latest News from the BBC:

THE HEADS ARE DOWN – THE SPIRITS ARE HIGH

By the time you read this our outdoor bowling season will be upon us and we can’t wait to get back on the green. Members will of course be looking for a return on the considerable investment we have made in upgrading and repairing the green over the last two years. All four ends of the green have now been raised and all the ‘heads’ have been returfed. Certainly, Tom Murray, our Greens Consultant will have his work cut out to get the green back to top condition and hopefully our members will show due patience as the new turf beds in. But, Tom will not have his able lieutenant Frank Millan working alongside him this year. Frank has decided to give up his Green Ranger role and I should like to thank him for all his efforts over the last four years or so.

Since my last report we have had a number of elections at the Club. We approach the new season with a change in the First XVI Skips. Derrick Robb will debut as a skip this year joining Maxie Baigrie, Mike Haldane and Stevie Watson at the expense of Kenny Girdler. Kenny has a proud record as a skip over many years and hopefully will be fighting to get his place back next year. I should also congratulate Sandra Duguid who has not only been elected as President of our Ladies Section but also Vice President of the Water of Leith Ladies Bowling Association.

Fortunately, the newly elected Club Committee remains largely unchanged since last year. The core of Bill Stark (Treasurer), Mike Spooner (Secretary), Ron Duguid (Social Secretary), Sandra Duguid, James Costello, Sharon Grieve, Morag Moffat, Brian Ronald, Margaret Turner and Hugh Watt are joined this year by Ian Hepburn and Ian McMillan whose fresh insights will be much welcomed. And I am indebted to Tom McDonald for agreeing to serve as Vice President and to David Anderson and Stevie Watson for serving as joint Match Secretaries. My thanks also go to Robin (Kenny) Murdoch who leaves the Committee after more than ten consecutive years of committed and valued service. I used the term ‘fortunately’ earlier because we are blessed in having such a committed team that can get things done while having to put up with me!

Sadly, the onset of the bowling season means a temporary end to our Wednesday afternoon Bingo sessions. So, to my ‘Golden Girls’ (or should that be ‘Charlie’s Angels’?) many thanks for all the laughs we’ve had this winter and I hope to see you all again in October.

Roll on the bowling!

CHARLIE HUSBAND OBE

Club President