Whilst 1940
itself was a low period with membership standing at 28 (of whom 9 were
visitors), the heyday of the Bowling Club seems to have been the late 40’s and
early 50’s with more than 80 paying members. The bowling club was acknowledged
far and wide for its sociability, earning the title “The
Club with the hearty welcome”.
When the Australian touring team visited in 1950 it was quoted that
“Rothbury
stood out as a much appreciated event”.
Within the UK
the club was approached from as far away as Mosspark of Glasgow. It is worth
reporting that Rothbury won by 8 shots.
On Saturday
24th June 1950 Rothbury hosted a visit by the President of the Northumberland
County Bowling Association, R.H.C. Coates Esq., M.B.E and his team. The
President Mr J. Brown, with the Club Captain Mr W.Y. Logan, officially welcomed
the visiting President. It was a close game with Rothbury scoring 104 in total
but losing to the visitors who scored 123. Of the five rinks Rothbury won two
with scores of 21:15 and 17:16. A creditable performance.
The
successful 1950 season prompted calls for a new pavilion and an improved green.
It seems that nothing is new.
These
indeed were heady days when the weather was dry, the sun shone and Rothbury
Bowling Club was always triumphant! Well almost always!
Extracts
from the year of 1954
|
“May
18th: Mr Logan vs NESCO at Wallsend - Mr Logan’s rink won easily.” |
As far as
internal matches were concerned the outstanding achievement of the season was
the winning of the Logan cup by a new member - “Mr
Norman Nichol who only joined the club this season”.
Runner up - the redoubtable Jimmie Starling.
Also in 1954 Mr Logan was elected County President with the result that Rothbury
hosted a great many County players during the year.
A sma
1955
was a year of great loss to the club. In addition to the passing of Mr Hounam
who was one of the best bowlers and represented Rothbury on many County matches,
Mr Logan also died. It was quoted in the minutes that “His (Mr Logan’s) cherished
ambition was to make Rothbury Bowling Club a Club to be proud
of……………since he took over the reins of office he put Rothbury Bowling
Club on the map, so to speak.”
A very laudable achievement!
The
secretary’s report for that year quoted the following verse:
For
when the Great Scorer comes
To write against your name.
He writes not that you won or lost.
But how you played the game.
Just
for the record this quotation comes from an American sports writer, Grantland
Rice (1880 - 1954), Alumnus Football 1941.
It
was not always peaceful within the club. The calm of a summer's day with
the gentle click of wood against wood sometimes gave way to minor disagreements,
and as with any club there were small matters that rankled.
For
example in 1956 Mr. Boyd who was secretary struck Mr. Hamilton who was one of
his rink colleagues and tended his resignation shortly after. It would appear
that his resignation was only from the position as secretary and not from the
club as his name crops up the following year.
In
1957 Mr. Anderson objected in writing to the committee about an unsatisfactory
marking of a no score end by Mr. Boyd causing Mr. Smith to be declared the
winner. As Mr. Boyd was in the same competition the committee upheld the marker,
but forced a change of rules, resolving that “a club member in an advanced
stage of the competition shall not be eligible as a marker in the same
competition”. Around that time Mr. Richardson refused to play Mr. Anderson in
one of the cup competitions if he (Mr. Anderson) used his present unstamped
bowls. It was interesting to note that the Committee overruled the objection on
the grounds that these unstamped bowls were the ones which were normally used by
Mr. Anderson.
Mr. Anderson: Played 2
won 1 lost 1
Mr. Boyd:
Played 2 won
0 lost 2
But
generally it was all very gentlemanly. In 1956 Mr. A Gregory was somewhat
indisposed, although the minutes do not tell us why. At any event it was decided
that he be permitted to play in the final of the pairs competition by
instalments.
Unfortunately we do not know how these instalments were handled, nor the final
outcome.
For
the next few years the club was fairly successful winning more than losing.
1963
played 16
won 10 lost
5 drew
1
1964 played
14 won 8 lost
5 cancelled
1
1965 played
15 won 11 lost
4
1966 played
11 won 8 lost
3