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ALMOST THERE!

By the time my regular reader(s?) sees this we shall be starting our outdoor bowling season. I for one am looking forward to getting back on the green as we have spent quite a bit of money to get it into tip top condition. Feedback from our greens staff suggests it will be much firmer than for any previous season. Hopefully it will be as flat as it looks when – as on the night of writing – it is covered in snow!
It’s been busy around the Club as we prepare for the new season.

A number of bowling meetings have taken place and let me firstly congratulate Anne Blake on being re-elected as the President of the Ladies Section. The Ladies should be looking forward to the new season as they have been bolstered (is that an appropriate word to use in connection with the Ladies?) by the addition of several new bowling members to whom we extend a very warm welcome.
The first of the Mens’ bowling meetings has taken place and congratulations go to Kenny Girdler, Mike Haldane, Dean McNeill and Derrick Robb on being elected as skips for the First XVI rinks. Once their rink members have been selected we shall be able to complete the appointment of the Second XVI skips but thanks are due at this stage to Ron Duguid, Fergie McBeath and Brian Turner for agreeing to fill three of those positions. The Senior Section meeting also saw Fergie McBeath, Frank Millan, Brian Ronald and Paddy Welsh selected as the skips for the Water of Leith Seniors XVI while Ron Duguid and yours truly will be doing our best to keep our rinks in the First Division of the West Edinburgh Seniors League. My selection only arose because President Tom McDonald fancies his chances of getting into the latter stages of so many of our Club competitions that he’ll be too tired to play on Thursday afternoons!

That leads me to a more serious note. I don’t often criticise Club members but I can’t help feeling a sense of disappointment that so many of our male bowlers are not prepared to commit to playing in our teams. I understand the difficulties for those with young families but I can’t understand why others are willing to forego the pleasure of being part of a team and sharing in its success and in the post mortems that are such an enjoyable feature of any team sports!

But let me finish on a positive note by thanking Hugh Gibson who once again (with the help of David Anderson) is continuing in the difficult role of Club Match Secretary. TTFN!

CHARLIE HUSBAND OBE
Past President