History (Continued)
DEVELOPMENTS IN HAMILTON BOWLING CLUB IN MORE
RECENT DECADES
In many respects, the story of Hamilton Bowling Club since its centenary
has been a story of consolidation and improvement rather than radical
change. The annual programme of the club, the management by office
bearers and directors, the membership numbers, the associated sections
for ladies and for winter activities and the links with the Scottish
Bowling Association and the Lanarkshire Bowling Association have all
remained constant features of the club.
There have, however, been certain important developments in the club
which have illustrated its flexibility as well as concern for tradition
and standards. These developments have mainly been about the green and
the club house and about arrangements for membership.
The day to day up-keep of the green continued to be the responsibility
of a greenkeeper employed by the club each season and, if suitable, paid
a retaining fee during the winter. During the 1950’s the club even
bought a house for the greenkeeper in Chapel Street. This whole business
of employing someone to look after the green was, of course, a
substantial responsibility for the directors of the club. In 1972 the
directors decided to change the arrangements for the up-keep of the
green. Instead of appointing a greenkeeper they drew up a contract with
a local firm of gardeners to do the necessary work. It was probably a
sign of the times that the club felt it necessary to take this course of
action.
There were other signs of the times which produced changes in the
arrangements for the green and the clubhouse. The growing importance of
the car, for example, had its effect on the club. There was an
increasing need for parking space close to the bowling green. In 1980,
therefore, the directors purchased, on behalf of the club a lane running
down beside the green, parallel to Strathmore Road, leading to the foot
bridge over to Hamilton Grammar School. The piece of ground beside
Strathmore Road was duly cleared and converted into a car park for
members.
The surroundings of the green, the paths, flowerbeds and walls were all
redesigned and constructed from 1959 and during the early 60’s. This
enhancement of the club’s property was carried out as a gift by one of
its longest standing members, James J. Wilson.
There was regular talk of extension to the club house. Perhaps the most
significant extension took place in 1970/71 and this produced the
building, more or less in its present form.
The male membership of the club remained fairly constant at around 120.
Of course, the Ladies’ Section continued and thrived in its particular
relationship to the rest of the club.
One very visible change for the members of the club was the introduction
of club blazers and badges in 1952. Since these have become so much a
part of the culture of bowling clubs, it is perhaps slightly surprising
to note that they were introduced comparatively recently in the history
of the game in Hamilton and in Scotland. But, sure enough, the old
photographs of the club events in pre war and in immediate post war
years show members in suits or sports jackets. It was in 1952, then,
that the directors of the club received various designs for a club badge
and decided on the one which showed Hamilton Mausoleum as the symbol of
the burgh. Since then the wearing of the blazer, the badge, the club tie
and appropriate lapel badges has been expected of members on special
occasions at the green and at matches against other clubs.
Although Hamilton Bowling Club has retained its identity and traditions
in the burgh of Hamilton, there are some respects in which it has become
less of an “establishment” club. For example, for most of the first
hundred years of its existence the club boasted the patronage of the
Dukes of Hamilton and it often included among its office bearers,
presidents or honorary members, provosts and bailies of the town. In the
years after World War II, however, these trappings of recognition in
high places clearly became less important to the club. The presidents,
other office bearers and directors were chosen more for their ability to
manage the affairs of the club.
These recent decades, then, have seen the club retain its strength and
confidence, its intention to develop and improve the facilities for its
members to play the game of bowls and its flexibility to adapt to our
changing times.
Note
This History of Hamilton Bowling Club has been abridged and adapted from
the book “Hamilton Bowling Club 1841—1991”
History Pages
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