Archie Mathews, 2005 Honorary Past President, delivers his speech to the asembled members and guests in Glasgow City Chambers in celebration of the Club reaching it's Centenary in 2005. This section of the website is in Archie's honour and much of the information about the centenary is taken directly from Archie's speech with kind permission of his family.
Honourable Lord Provost, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, fellow bowlers and anyone I may have missed.......... May I, on behalf of Scotstounhill Bowling Club, welcome you to our centennial celebratory reception. It is pleasing to see so many old faces here, some of them even friendly............ I will try and keep this speech short so as not to bore you to much and anyway you don't want to be listening to me all night..........."
....As you know, it gives me great pleasure, but that is not what we are here to talk about. So I will give a short history of our beloved bowling club................. Being the longest serving past president, not as some of you might think the oldest. The mantel of Scotstounhill Bowling Club centenary presidency has been given to me. An honour which makes me feel both very humble and very proud, to think that 100 years of Scotstounhill bowling tradition has been put in my hands, but I am sure that with the help of my directorate:- The Past President- Mr. Harry Hart. My Vice President- Mr. Mark Strathdee The Honary Secretary- Mr. Alec Maule. The Honary Treasurer - Mr. Ernie Mulholland Match & Ties Secretary- Mr. Stuart livingstone Junior Secretary - Mr. Charlie Gow and Mr. Gordon Kennedy, Mrs. Alice Simpson Mr. Willie McVey, Mr. Andy Robertson Mr. Kenny Mathews. ........... And also the support of each and every one of our members. I can see no problems in keeping the tradition alive for another 100 years. But don't ask me to do this again at our next centenary............."
Archie and his wife Mary, at the Opening Day of the Centenary Season 2005.
Centenary Year Directors. From left to right: Andy Robertson, Ernie Mulholland, Jimmy McDermid, Mark Strathdee, Harry Hart, Alec Maule, Centenary President Archie Mathews, Kenny Mathews, Alice Simpson, Stuart Livingstone, Willie McVey, Chas Gow,
.......This club came about in 1904 on the 19th of April, when Gentlemen in the area were like minded enough to form a bowling and tennis club. A Mr. Howard was elected chairman and acquired the waiting room of Scotstounhill railway station to hold the first meeting. At that meeting Mr. Howard and a Mr. Gardiner put forward £20 each and the six other Gentlemen in attendance, put up £10 each, making the princely sum of £100. A meeting was arranged with a Mr. R.B. Stewart, who was the Scotstoun estate factor. The agreement was that the land was set aside for a bowling and tennis club, at the rate of rent for £5 per annum. A donation was also given by Mr R. B. Stewart, but the sum was never disclosed"
(above)Scotstounhill Train Station circa 1910
..In those days, the club was strictly teetotal, so none of us would have joined. After advertising through circulars in the area, a meeting, once again in the waiting room of the railway station on the 29th July 1904 brought the membership to thirty (30) Gentlemen. The fees were £1 1 shilling, a guinea in old money. Some of you still have them, only don’t spend them. The money in the bank stood at £270.
By the 9th February 1905 another meeting held in the railway station brought the membership to sixty five (65) Gentlemen. It was then stated that a bowling green and 2 tennis courts would cost £700. The work went ahead and on the 11th May 1905, R.G. Lawrie, the bowls manufacturer offered bowls at 28/- per set, (normal price 37/-)...."
(top)Scotstounhill Bowling Club circa 1905
...So on the big day of 24th June 1905, Mr. R.B. Stewart and the bowling Gentlemen opened what is now Scotstounhill Bowling and Tennis club. A makeshift clubhouse was built, and by 27th April 1907, the estate factor Mr. Stewart, attended by the now eighty (80) members opened a purpose built clubhouse. The old clubhouse being sold to a Mr. Murdoch for the princely sum of 15/-.................."
Photo of the opening day 1905. The photo hangs in the Bert Murdoch Lounge in the Clubhouse.
Those of us familiar to the area will realise that to date there is still a local shop at the station, you can still cross the bridge to gain access to the club grounds, but Anniesland Rd. is now a main traffic route with cars being parked near to the station for the "Park and Ride" Today the children in the photograph of 1910 (right) would be surrounded by parked cars.
Photograph of the original "wee shop" at Scotstounhill train station top and 100 years later below. It also used to be R. S. McColls-remember that one.
Anniesland Rd. above circa 1910 and below the same corner a century later.
Above; photographs of Scotsounhill train station, circa 1910. How many of you can remember crossing the bridge at the same time a steam engine went under.
Through the war of 1914 – 1918 things progressed quietly as you would expect and afterwards came the dreaded emancipation of woman. So like many other clubs, Scotstounhill bowling club, in 1925 on the 10th February proposed and carried that we should have a ladies section. Another stronghold of the male bastion bit the dust. And on Saturday 25th April 1925 with fifty six (56) Lady members, the first ladies opening day took place. I will move on to our 25th year and say that the success of the club was really taking off. We had ninety four (94) Gents and fifty nine (59) lady bowlers, forty five (45) gents, seventy three (73) Ladies and twenty five (25) junior tennis members, also three (3) for putting, but no mention of the croquet section. So overall that number was two hundred and ninety nine (299) members. What club would like that number today, all I should think?"
From left to right the above photographs are Anniesland Rd. circa 1910. Killoch Dr. circa 1930s. Polnoon Ave circa 1930s and Dumbarton Rd. Scotstoun 1930s.
The photographs reflect some of the housing in the area around the time of the club being formed and in the following decades. The area grew in size and population with the then Corporation building programmes which continued into the 70's. Laterly there has been the Council house Right to Buy and the emergense of the Housing Association movement and private developers.
The above photos are of (above top left) Talbot Terr., (above left) Loanfoot Ave. and the larger photo is of the Knightswood 'estate' in the 1930s.
Over the same period Club members lived and were brought up in the surrounding area. The clubhouse and grounds received improvement work over the years. Much done by its members and some still carrying on the tradition. Some members came from "bowling" families, some even from "golfing" families and others being introduced to the game by members and being "bitten by the bug". Below are photographs of some landmarks in the surrounding areas over the centenary period.
The above photographs are from left to right : Fossil Grove (Victoria Park) Construction of the Clyde Tunnel, South street which stretched along the river Clyde to the town. Victoria Park, Whiteinch.
Now for some statistics on the best players to pass through the club. In 1930 Mr W.J. Wilson was picked to play in the international team and again in 1931, 32 & 33. His achievements were club champion nine (9) times between 1911 &1936. He also won the S.B.A. singles in 1932. Not a bad record. But we have had a player with even more club championships: - Mr J.G. Robertson won no fewer than twelve (12) times from 1938 to 1967. His record year was 1941 when as runner-up in the G.B.A. singles; he went on to win the R.B.A. singles & the Lord Provost Red Cross Gold Medal. The Lord Provost at that time was Sir P. Dolland. Mr Robertson was selected to play for his country in 1949; he was also the club president and was awarded the honorary life membership..............."
Our game list through these years was quite extensive, with winning the Renshaw cup and the Renfrewshire pairs in 1942, the G.B.A. pairs in 1944, and playing in the Lanarkshire in 1945, 46 & 47. We also had in 1947, twelve (12) friendly matches: - Jordanhill, Old Kilpatrick, Yarrow, Clydebank, Woodend, Victoria Park, Yoker, St. Vincent, Dalmuir, Bearsden, Broomhill & Whiteinch. Although where they found the time, what with club ties, internal games and the weather, they must have been Gentlemen of leisure, because I don’t see any time left for work. In preparation for the Jubilee year 1955, the year before, (1954 for those of you who cannot work that out), the fund of £710 was used to purchase twenty (20) tonnes of soil, and this was put into the sloping bank opposite the clubhouse and the now S shaped path and gate were formed. In 1955, as part of the Jubilee expenditure, the club and grounds were purchased from the Glasgow Corporation, who by that time had obtained them from the scotstoun estate. Interest free loans from the members (no repayments for 2 years) and the jubilee fund were used. Our membership stood at Gents, one hundred (100) & Ladies, fifty one (51) in the bowling section and Gents, twenty four (24) & Ladies, thirty six (36) in the tennis section. Sadly by 1958 the tennis club and putting had all finished................."
That’s enough of the sad stuff, in 1970 we got a licensed bar, (what a long time to wait for a drink), and some of you still don’t know where the bar is..........."
Aerial photograph of the Club grounds, also showing Anniesland Rd. left, and Danes Dr. and Goldberry Ave. on the right hand side, with two public greens at the bottom of the picture (they are now no longer). The buildings immediately next to the club green are where the tennis courts used to be sited
By 1981 we were back in winning form, with Mr. D. Smyth winning the “Champion of Champions” and Ann Arnott winning the Glasgow Ladies Singles. In 1984 Scott Livingstone won the Glasgow junior singles, 1988 Gents triples qualified for Queens Park in the Scottish. New rules were introduced in 1987 with games played to 25 shots instead of 21. That thank goodness lasted only one year. All clubs now strive to play at Ayr Northfield, where only the best go. We at Scotstounhill have had our fair share of players there. In 1991, Mr. G. Lyndsey qualified in the singles, 1992 Gents rink, 1993 Gents senior rink and Gents rink 1994."
Other modern accolades, 1993 Gents won the G.B.A. fours, 1994 Gents R.B.A. pairs Mr. D. Graham & Mr. N. Thomson, 1994 runner-up R.B.A. fours, 1999 Gents won the G.B.A. pairs Mr. H. Glancy & Mr. D. Graham (again), 2003 Gents runner-up G.B.A. fours. Ladies qualified for Ayr Northfield: - singles, Mrs. Francis Farmer; Pairs, Mrs. Jane Maule & Mrs. Mary (Mary Doll) McVey. And just last year the Ladies triples qualified: - Mrs. Rosemary Craig, Ms Mags Morton & Mrs. Eleanor Knox............"
So as you can see not only great players in the past but the tradition is continuing with great players of the modern era. As I said Mr. Robertson, twelve (12) times club champion, Mr. Wilson, nine (9) times and of course myself, twice – 1973 & 1975."
.............With modern technology, skill and youth, it is increasingly difficult to win the championship, never mind doing it twice. But with perseverance and fortitude, we oldies can still surprise you young pretenders. Overcoming the adversity of age and with dogged determination, one of our seniors saw off all comers and lifted the coveted title of club champion 2004. That man is Mr. Jim McDermid, proof not to write us old boys off yet.
In closing, the most important point of this evening’s festivity is to show that fellowship, friendship and the love of the game of bowls, clubs like Scotstounhill will survive and hopefully thrive.
Thank you." Mr. Archie Mathews
Mary Mathews delivering the "opening day" jack to start the Centenary season 2005.
The Bert Murdoch Lounge
Members converted the locker and pool room into a Members Lounge in 2004, in honour of Honorary Past President Bert Murdoch.
As part of the Centenary celebrations in 2005, the Club brought together Past Presidents from the last 30 years for a photo shoot (and yes, some say they should have been!). The photograph became part of the plaque, below. NB Past Presidents Willie McVey and Blair Graham could not attend due to other committments.
Back Row Past Presidents are; Jimmy Mcdermid, Scotstounhill; James Craig, Scotstounhill; Scott Livingstone, then Victoria Park B.C. now Hyndland; Robert Smith, then Jordanhill B.C. now Yoker B.C.; Andy Robertson, Scotstounhill; Richard Pullan, then Jordanhill B.C.; Alec Maule, Scotstounhill.
Front row; Michael Griffen, Scotstounhill; Larry Sturrock, Scotstounhill; Hugh Maguire, Scotstounhill; Archie Mathews (D), Scotstounhill; Harry Hart, Scotstounhill; Jack Dempster, Scotstounhill; John Latta, British Legion; Past Presidents Willie McVey, Scotstounhill and Blair Graham, Clydebank, could not attend the photo shoot.(D) deceased.
David Williamson, seen here in a C.D.B.A. final 2009, won the C.D.B.A. Champion of Champions Junior Singles during the Centenary year. Congratulations also went to Alice Simpson and Danny Fleming in reaching the last 16 of the Mixed Pairs of the Sottish Championships during the Centenary year.
While 2005 was the Centenary year it was the same as any other. As usual there was a "closing day" bringing the seasons play to an end. The Centenary President Mr. Archie Mathews made a closing speech and in doing summarised the seasons main events. Part of the speech made reference to the kind gifts received from other kindred clubs and indeed individual members.
........The gifts that Scotstounhill received were as follows: - Clydebank, Old Kilpatrick, S. B. A., Albion, Dalmuir, Anniesland, G. B. A., Victoria Park, Hampden, C. D. B. A., Royal British Legion, Radnor Park, Singers 1980, Glasgow Ex-Presidents, Glaisnock Valley, Jordanhill, Yarrow, Springburn and Alec & Janie Maule......."
Finally, my thanks to my wife Mary for all the work she has done for this year in the club and for turning me out clean and tidy." Centenary President Archie Mathews. Scotstounhill Bowling Club Centenary Year 2005.
The Club has since moved on from its Centenary year.
2006-I. Bain, W. McCormack, N. Thompson, C. Steele reached the Final of the C.D.B.A. Champion of Champions Gents Fours
2007-M. Strathdee, K. Mathews reached the Final of the G.B.A. Gents Pairs.
2008-S. Neill, K.Mathews reached the District Finals of the S.B.A. Pairs.
2009-J. Nugent, D. Williamson, K. Mathews reached the Final of the C.D.B.A Champion of Champions Gents Triples.
2009-Scotstounhill reach its best recorded league position in the C.D.B.A. League.
2009-A. Livingstone reached the District Finals of the S.B.A. Junior Singles.
2010 - D. Steele, F. Farmer & A. Simpson reach S.W.B.A. District Finals.
2010 -I. Bain & S. Livingstone reach C.D.B.A. Champion of Champions Pairs Final.