Pink Newspaper Cutting (sometime 1958-1960)
Stepped In To Beat Corporation
How Willowbrae Took Over Their Two Greens
One of two bowling clubs in Edinburgh that can boast two greens; one of the first to start off with a mixed membership; one that has been proved by fire and a club which this season has scored a notable treble achievement - there you have in a nutshell the up to date history of Willowbrae.
One of two bowling clubs in Edinburgh that can boast two greens; one of the first to start off with a mixed membership; one that has been proved by fire and a club which this season has scored a notable treble achievement -
The Willowbrae club, as such, had nothing to do with the laying down of the two greens; that came about through the enterprise of a builder, Alec Miller, whose plans revealed that in developing his feu from the Abercorn Estates he made a priority of open spaces for recreation purposes.
Miller laid out the greens round about 1907 or 1908, levying a charge on the bowlers who used them and it was in 1910 that the Willowbrae Club was formed with a membership of 65 women and men. An arrangement was come to with the builder for a rental of the bottom green, later on they took over both. At this time the Rechabites and the Redpath Brown Clubs were also tennants and they were given playing facilities for a year.
Miller laid out the greens round about 1907 or 1908, levying a charge on the bowlers who used them and it was in 1910 that the Willowbrae Club was formed with a membership of 65 women and men. An arrangement was come to with the builder for a rental of the bottom green, later on they took over both. At this time the Rechabites and the Redpath Brown Clubs were also tennants and they were given playing facilities for a year.
An Ultimatum
In 1921 the members got wind that the Corporation were interested in a purchase to make the greens available for public use, and this acted as a spur, so that after careful deliberation about the money involved, it was decided to buy. Along with the club house the purchase price was in the region of £1300, the president when this big decision was taken was Mr W.R.Donald. The very next year the clubhouse was destroyed by fire but this was not allowed to stand in the way of progress, and on November 4 of the same year the reconstructed clubhouse was opened. Something like £1200 was required for the work and the furnishings.
In 1921 the members got wind that the Corporation were interested in a purchase to make the greens available for public use, and this acted as a spur, so that after careful deliberation about the money involved, it was decided to buy. Along with the club house the purchase price was in the region of £1300, the president when this big decision was taken was Mr W.R.Donald. The very next year the clubhouse was destroyed by fire but this was not allowed to stand in the way of progress, and on November 4 of the same year the reconstructed clubhouse was opened. Something like £1200 was required for the work and the furnishings.
Sections Merged
It was in 1922 that the shareholder’s section of the club was formed as a means of helping to guarantee financial reserves and some £400 was subscribed in loans. These shareholders were responsible for the finances of the club while the ordinary members had no vote on such matters.
This was the position until 1956 when after considerable crusading against the arrangement it was finally agreed to put all the members on the same footing. The shareholders were bought out - a victory for democracy some no doubt claimed!
Whereas it is quite a common thing to have fathers and sons on the role of membership of clubs, here is one in which mothers and sons are to be found along, of course with husbands and wives.
Old-timers at Willowbrae are quick to acknowledge that they owed a great debt to the women members when the club was passing through anxious times in its early history. In the old days too a tennis court existed and there was a putting green at the south end of the feu, to which the public were admitted at a small fee.
There were naturally times when money was not plentiful in the kitty, and it is recalled that one year the balance on hand was four and a half pence(d). That was long before the days when Willowbrae had the profits from a bar to provide spirited inflation to the credits!
It was in 1922 that the shareholder’s section of the club was formed as a means of helping to guarantee financial reserves and some £400 was subscribed in loans. These shareholders were responsible for the finances of the club while the ordinary members had no vote on such matters.
This was the position until 1956 when after considerable crusading against the arrangement it was finally agreed to put all the members on the same footing. The shareholders were bought out -
Whereas it is quite a common thing to have fathers and sons on the role of membership of clubs, here is one in which mothers and sons are to be found along, of course with husbands and wives.
Old-
There were naturally times when money was not plentiful in the kitty, and it is recalled that one year the balance on hand was four and a half pence(d). That was long before the days when Willowbrae had the profits from a bar to provide spirited inflation to the credits!
