Polmaise Bowling Club

Alloa Journal and Advertiser – Thursday, June 8th, 1961

POLMAISE BOWLING CLUB CELEBRATE THEIR JUBILEE

This is a memorable week for the mining village of Fallin for the Polmaise Bowling Club are celebrating their golden jubilee and doing it in real royal fashion. After an enjoyable mixed game on Monday night, the club had as guests on Tuesday night the President of the Scottish Bowling Association, Mr David Preston, Stirling, and the members of the S.B.A. Council, together with the British Isles championship rink from Kirkcaldy skipped by Mr R. Whitehead.

A keen game on the excellent green resulted in a draw of 68 shots each, after which the company sat down to supper in the lounge of the Gothenburg. There the guests were given a warm welcome by the president, Mr William Paterson, now in his eighth year of office, and in the party at the top table were Mr Preston ; Mr John Linning, secretary of the S.B.A. : Mr Tom Corrie, secretary of Stirling County Bowling Association; Mr Tom Bunyan, that grand old man of the Polmaise Club now resident in Perthshire ; Mr Robert Dick, vice-president ; Mr .Pat. Lyons, secretary, and Mr John Brown, treasurer, the oldest playing member of the club. He joined in 1912.

Mr Preston proposed a toast to the club, and after the secretary had the scores Mr. Paterson presented prizes to the members of the highest-up rink on each side. Referring to the auspicious occasion they were celebrating, Mr Paterson said that had been an outstanding night in the history of Polmaise Club and paid tribute to the Gothenburg for rallying round them to make the celebrations a success.

Mr Preston at the outset of a racy speech thanked the British Isles championship rink for coming all the way from Lochgelly to help out the Scottish on this important occasion. It was a great joy to him, he said, to be among his ain folk that night He had known the Polmaise Club for many years and he thanked them for their co-operation over the past 15 years.

Polmaise was born in 1911. It was one of the small clubs, but, strange to say, they had won every cup they had competed for in the County of Stirling. They had only a member-ship of around 30, but with the help of the "Goth" had never allowed the surface of their fine green to deteriorate.

When The club started the membership fee was 6/ -. After the second world war they raised it to 10/- and now be believed it was £1.

He could not, therefore, understand why more of the men folk of Fallin did not support the club in the way fit so richly deserved. They were missing a great opportunity of enjoying life to the full on the bowling green and taking part in the greatest sport in the world. Polmaise Club, said Mr Preston. had been four times to Queen's Park. They had also the rather peculiar distinction of having had only six presidents in their lifetime of 50 years. They must like to keep good men on the job, and " Willie" Paterson, now doing his eighth year, was also doing a very good job. He thanked the club for their kind invitation and for their generous hospitality, and wished them a very successful week and much success in the future.

Mr Paterson briefly acknowledged the Scottish president's remarks. Mr Tom Bunyan said he felt it an honour to have been asked to thank the "Scottish" for their presence and it had been a pleasure to see them enjoy themselves on laughable. The Scottish was a wonderful organisation and its affairs were well handled by Secretary Linning. It was a great honour to Polmaise to have the British Isles championship rink with them on this occasion. It was also a very nice gesture on the part of the Scottish Council members to present badges to the Polmaise players. He assured them they would be much appreciated by those who received them.

Mr John Linning, the Scottish secretary, added a word of congratulation to the club and said how much they appreciated the way Mr Preston was carrying out his duties as president. He also mentioned that this year they had a record entry for the Scottish championships. Out of the 772 clubs. 741 had entered the rink competition, 735 the singles and 734 the pairs. It was amazing, he said, to see such interest in the game.

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