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The Story of Stepps

Sports & Recreations
Bowling Club

Towards the end of 1903 a circular was sent out to the residenters of Stepps, inviting those interested in the formation of a bowling club to attend a meeting in the Union Hall on Thursday 17th December (8.00pm). Sixteen men responded, and attended. At the meeting, the Chairman, John Dunlop, read a letter from the solicitors of Colonel Sprot of Garnkirk (dated 10th July 1900), stating that Mrs Sprot had set aside a site for a bowling green and £20 towards its cost, on condition that Colonel Sprot be made a life member, if a club was formed. Those present decided to canvass for members and report back to a future meeting. At that meeting, held on 24th December, it was stated that 66 men had expressed an interest in joining. It was then agreed to proceed with the formation of a club, to be known as the "Stepps & District Bowling Club". Officials elected at that time were John Dunlop (Chairman), John Gray (Secretary) and Andrew Campbell (Treasurer). The annual subscription was fixed at £1 1s, with under-18s paying 10s 6d. On 24th January 1904 the Committee were advised that Col. Sprot had agreed to grant a feu charter for a nominal sum, for the first three years, and a feu duty of £1 thereafter. The club was expected to meet the expense of the green, but Col. Sprot would provide a loan of £100 (later increased to £150). Over the following months canvassing continued for members, and for input of funds, by donations and loans, and by payment of subscriptions in advance. Within a month £112 15s 6d had been ingathered or promised. By 15th December the sum had reached £380 5s, made up of £68 5s for 65 memberships, £114 8s in promised subscriptions, £22 12s in donations, and £175 in loans.

Bowling ClubOn the basis of this it was agreed to proceed with the construction of the green. A choice of four sites had been offered by Col. Sprot, but the one chosen was on the west side of Lenzie Road. Mr Robert Provan, a Rutherglen contractor, at an estimated cost of £300, and Mr David Walkinshaw the Muirhead joiner, for an estimated £10 10s, were chosen to lay the green and provide the necessary fencing, respectively. On 23rd March 1905 the rules of the club were presented and approved and the fees previously agreed were ratified. The following month it was announced that the local Curling Club had donated their clubhouse for use as a bowlhouse. On 10th June 1905, before an assembly of between two and three hundred people from Stepps and surrounding villages, the green was formally opened by Colonel Sprot of Garnkirk & Stravithie. President John Dunlop spoke of the Committee's work, and referred to the old fence, nettles, dockens, and mole-heaps which had formerly cluttered the site. Col. Sprot responded and called on Mrs Sprot to throw the first jack - a silver jack, the gift of the club. Mr Dunlop then threw the first bowl and Col. Sprot declared the green open. The usual "President's Rink v. Vice-President's Rink" match followed, with a result of 5 shots in the President's favour. Afternoon tea was then served. In the years following a lavatory was added to the west side of the bowlhouse and a kitchen to the rear, the former at a cost of £23 17s and the latter for £7 - with kitchen utensils for £1! In 1910 an outhouse-extension was completed (for £15) and gas installed (for £3 6s 2d).

In 1908 a suggestion to institute a Ladies' Day was turned down, but two years later ladies were invited to play at no cost, gentlemen at the same time purchasing a shilling ticket. The rinks were mixed. This arrangement for Ladies' Days continued until April 1914, when ladies were permitted to play Pairs or Rinks for eleven ends, followed by gentlemen for fifteen. The following year ladies were accepted as Members (Temporary) for an annual subscription of 5s, and permitted to play on two afternoons per week, between the hours of 2.00 and 5.00pm. Only wives, daughters and sisters of members were eligible to join. On the Ladies' Day following, every additional lady brought along by a gentleman had to be paid for at 6d each. Unaccompanied ladies paid 1s. In 1916 a motion was tabled to ban ladies from playing altogether, but this was voted down. The ladies' section has continued satisfactorily down the years, though even today (1995) ladies are still termed "Temporary" members.

In 1921 a new clubhouse, designed by Mr R.M.Smith and built by Mr Sam Smith at a cost of £800, was funded by the efforts of 80 members and officially opened on 30th April. The opening ceremony was performed by the wife of President William Watson, by cutting a tartan ribbon across the doorway. She then proceeded to the green to throw the first jack and play two bowls. On behalf of the contractor, Mr Smith, Vice-President Charles Greer presented Mrs Watson with an inscribed silver jack, mounted on a tripod. The new building was much more commodious than the previous structure. It was fronted by a verandah leading to the main doorway. Inside was a 30ft by 15ft clubroom. At the west end was a bowlhouse, and at the east end a large kitchen and ladies' room. At the back was lavatory accommodation, a tool shed and store provision. Heating was by gas radiators, and lighting by incandescent gas fittings. In later years electricity was installed, with other modifications. This building served the club until 1987, when it was demolished and superseded by a new structure, the shell of which was put in place by a contractor. All finishing work, both inside and out, was carried out by club members, on a voluntary basis. The new clubhouse was officially opened on 7th May 1988 by Mrs Florence Boyce, wife of a former President. In the autumn of 1995 a grant of £4,230 was received from the Scottish Sports Council Lottery Fund, towards a programme of upgrading. Work was then carried out to raise the bankings around the green to a standard height, and also to effect improvements to the green itself.

Over the years the club members have maintained a good record in local and district competitions and matches. Difficulty has sometimes been experienced in maintaining a satisfactory membership figure (for both men and women), but on the whole this has been achieved through the diligence of the elected officials. At present membership stands at 106 men and 60 women (1995).
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