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Neil
Soloman had a trial for the Scotland team on Sunday 29th
May 2005 - Well done Neil
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Snippets from the Archives
Spotlight on Harry Aitcheson
Founding Members
Multum in Parvo
James Bond
 Jim
picks his number to compete in his 55th opening day
Jim McEwan, one of Tillicoultry Bowling Club's longest
serving members notched up his 55th consecutive Opening Day on the
3rd of April 2004. Jim started bowling in 1950 as a member of Devonvale
Bowling Club where he was club champion on at least 5 occasions and
served as president in 1961. After the amalgamation of Devonvale Bowling
Club with Tillicoultry Bowling Club Jim continued his bowling with
Tillicoultry and became club champion in 1986, aged 67. Jim has played
in many Balfour teams over the years, including playing in the Devonvale
Balfour Team of 1964 at the East End Green, Alloa which beat Tillicoultry
in the Finals !
Congratulations Jim and we hope to see you at many more
opening days
 Jim
throws his first bowl of the 2004 season - his 55th
Did you know that Tillicoultry used to have another
bowling green - The Public House Working Men's Club situated opposite
the Community Centre on the land now occupied by sheltered housing
in the old West Church. This club was formed in the late 19th century
but went out of existence during the Great War. They won the Balfour
Trophy in 1894 and 1896 and were runners up to the Tillicoultry Club
when they first won it in 1902.
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4th May 1921
The Greenkeeper was instructed that it was his duty to see that
the Bowl House, the brasses, wash hand basin and urinals were kept
in good order !
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25th October 1921
A special meeting was held to get the sanction of members to overdraw
from the Union Bank the sum of £30
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26th April 1927
A proposal to allow Ladies to become playing members only at a
fee of 10/- was rejected by a large majority of members
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24th April 1928
It was agreed to obtain a 56 foot mast from A White, shipbuilder,
North Queensferry for use as a flagpole. The cost of carriage would
be £2. 11/-
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4th April 1960
A proposal by Mr W Bunyan to apply for a bar licence was approved
by 34 votes to 12
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23rd April 1962
A proposal for Sunday bowling was approved by 24 votes to 11
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On opening day in the 1952 centenary year the
green was rolled at 7am by a "young" Andrew Cree whose
father was then greenkeeper
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The opening of the green in the Jubilee Year
coincided with the first Ibrox disaster in which 20 people died
and 200 were hurt as a stand collapsed on April 5th 1902 |
When the railway line was open it was often
said that many a game of bowls was altered by the rumbling of passing
trains causing bowls to fall in for shot
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In the 1990's there were 4 generations of the
one family who were members at the same time - the "Clan Harrower"
James, Alex & John, David & Ian, David Jnr and Graham |
The
year was 1936, long before Sean Connery dreamt of becoming
a secret agent when in Tillicoultry the real life James Bond
became president of Tillicoultry Bowling Club
James Bond was a member of the bowling club from
1930 - 1942 living in Ann Street with his wife and 3 daughters.
He was a gardener by profession and for many years was head gardener
at Aberdona House between Forestmill and Coalsnaughton. In 1937
he handed over the presidency to his great friend and well known
bowler, Peter Duncan.
President : James Archibald - Treasurer :
William Robertson - Secretary : William Clugston
Directors : R. Archibald, Alex Drysdale,
Graham Patterson, James Snowdowne
Honorary Members : Alex. Main, W
Drysdale
Ordinary Members : Robert Archibald, Robert Archibald,
Devonvale, James Alexander, John Balfour James Beattie, John Cowie,
William W Cree, John Dawson, Archibald Drysdale, Wm Drysdale, Glasgow,
William Gibson, John Gilfillan, Rev. George Hunter, Lawrence R
Hynde, James Houston, James Leishman, George Miller, Thomas Monteath,
James Paton, John Paton, grocer, Jas Paton jnr, John Paton, James
Richie, Wm Robertson, Robert Scott, Charles Stead, Rev David Smith,
James B Thomson, Robert Thomson, John Thomson, James Watson, Robert
Whyte
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Spotlight on Harry Aitcheson
HB Aitcheson or Harry as he was known to everyone
was born in Kilwinning, Ayrshire. He moved to Tillicoultry when
he married a local girl, Mary Hall. Interested in many sports
Harry took up bowls when a hand injury prevented him playing
billiards and golf. He quickly made his mark in the club, winning
the championship on no fewer than 14 occasions, once 5 times
in a row (1948-1952). He also won the County Singles 7 times,
recording the remarkable feat of 2 hat-tricks - 1944-45-46 and
1950-51-52. He also won the County Pairs Championships twice,
playing with T Gow in 1955 and CP McMillan in 1959.
He qualified on 2 occasions for the Scottish Single
Hand Championship at Queen's Park Glasgow and had he shown himself
that way inclined might also have been an Internationalist.
Although Harry always played to win with no quarter
given or asked he was nevertheless a great supporter of new and
especially young bowlers giving them encouragement, advice and
support to ensure that they had the best possible start to their
bowling careers.
Harry became club secretary in 1938, a post he
held continually until 1964 when failing health forced him to
give it up. He had 2 daughters and a son; daughter May was an
avid supporter of the Bowling Club both as a bowler and helper,
putting in countless hours working for the club especially on
match days helping to provide meals for the members and visitors
: son John was also a keen bowler. He won the Club Championship
on one occasion creating a record at that time of being the only
father and son whose names were on the Paton Cup.
With the death of Harry on the 28th December 1964
the town not only lost a respected member of the community but
a friend to all and to the Bowling Club especially he left a
legacy of commitment and excellence of playing ability that has
never been or is likely to be surpassed in the annuls of Tillicoultry
Bowling Club.
(information courtesy of Willie Bunyan as published
in the 150th anniversary booklet)
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A special "Bowler's"
poem was written for Harry in 1946 by the Wanderer, a reporter
for the Tillicoultry Tribune
MULTUM IN PARVO (Much in Little)
Harry, what ye lack in inches Ye hae o' stuff that never
flinches
A terror when ye get tae clinches upon the green
Hae a' your games been luck or pinches? My tiny freen'
It's only when a man's himsel' That markmanship and coolness
tell,
A wee bit shake they say farewell and banish hope
Wi' confidence you ring the bell, Be hard tae stop
What matters size if skill you've joukit? Guid gear they say
is aft wee bookit
A man o' micht? Ye dinna lookit - Ye got your mark
An' every chance that cam' ye took it - Grand booling wark
In twa's an' fowers it's different boolin' Safety wi' numbers
is the rulin'
I grant you that it takes some schoolin' An maybe skill
But nerves as weel as shots there poolin': Say what you will
Three times on end - it tak's some playin'; Three times a win
- it tak's some playin'
You have the skill, there's nae gain sayin', That does the
trick
Your club should be quite proud o' haein' A boolin' brick
Lang may ye reign and keep yer power, Lang ower giants may
ye tower
Land folk in admiration glower, May luck ootrule
An' see you never get run ower by some stray bool
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