The Establishment of Inverurie Bowling Club in 1884
Produced by Rhona B. Jarvis as a memento to our members for our 125th anniversary
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The Inverurie Club
5th April 1884 A Public meeting held here thisevening to consider the possibility of forming a Bowling and Lawn Tennis Club. Present: John Peat, James Maitland, James Laing, John Charles, Alex Fowlie, GeoDawson, Alex F Nares, Thos STait, Ed. Alexander, JamesEwing, John Watson, ThosDare, George Mearnes, GeorgePhilip, Robert Brown, Wm.Wyness, Wm. Allan, James Robertson. On the motion of Mr Fowlie seconded by Mr Brown, Mr Charles was elected Chairman. On Mr Charles taking the chair he remarked that the first step to take is to see if a Bowling Club along with Lawn Tennis bedesirable. On the motion of Mr Fowlie seconded by Mr Alexander it was unanimously agreed to and that it be named The Inverurie Bowling and LawnTennis Club. The Earl of Kintore nominated Patron. Mr Fowlie elected President,Bailie Laing and Mr Nares Vices and Robert Brown as Secretary and Treasurer. The following gentlemen appointed as Committee. Messrs Tait, Charles, Watson,Peat and Dawson, three to form a quorum. The Committee were instructed to arrange with Alex Hunter,Banks of Ury Inn for that piece of ground belonging to him between St. Anthony’s Lodge and the Railway, to draw up Rules and make Bye Laws for conducting the Club. It was agreed that the annual subscription be Ten shilling and Ladies subscription be Twoshillings and sixpence for LawnTennis and to charge one penny each for a game of 21 at Bowls. On the motion of Mr Tait seconded by Mr Fowlie, Mr Geo Dawson was requested to make the greens which he agreed to do.The Treasurer was authorised to draw to the amount of One Hundred Pounds on the Town & County Bank Limited, Inverurie for the purpose of making the Green. Signed John Charles |
Inverurie Reading Room
10th April 1884. At a meeting of the Committee of the Inverurie Bowling and Lawn Tennis Club held here this evening. Present: Messrs Fowlie, Tait,Dawson, Laing, Peat, Charles,Watson and Brown. Mr Fowlie, President, in theChair.The Secretary reported that he had an offer of Turf from Baillie Wyness, consisting of about 1760 square yards. The Committee having examined the turf on the ground they considered it the most suitable they could get and on Mr Wyness being sent for, he was willing to give it on payment of £20, which the Committee agreed to do, Mr Wyness stipulated that the turf be all removed by the 10th of May. The Committee further requested the Secretary to get offers from the three local joiners for the Club House and Pailing at an early date. Signed: Alex Fowlie. Inverurie Reading Room
14th April 1884 At a meeting of the Committee of the Inverurie Bowling and Lawn Tennis Club held here this evening. Present: Messrs Fowlie, Peat,Charles, Laing, Watson, Brown.Mr Fowlie President in thechair. The Chairman opened the estimates for the Club House and Pailing as follows: William Allan : £36.19 William Milne : £36.10 William Stewart : £40.10 The Committee agreed to accept the offer of Mr. Milne. Signed: Alex. Fowlie |
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Inverurie Reading Room
2nd May 1884 At a meeting of the Committee of the Inverurie Bowling and LawnTennis Club held here this evening. Present: Messrs Fowlie, Laing,Watson, Dawson, Charles and Brown.Mr Fowlie President in theChair. Mr Laing was instructed to fit in a Lavatory and Urinal and hose to water the green. Mr Watson was also instructed to procure a Roller weighing 10cwt – and a Lawn Mower. Signed: Alex. Fowlie Inverurie Reading Room
23rd May 1884 At a meeting of the committee of the Inverurie Bowling and Lawn Tennis Club held here this evening. Present: Messrs Fowlie,Charles, Nares, Laing, Watson and Brown. Mr Fowlie President in theChair. The chairman remarked that the club had reason to congratulate themselves on the very excellent green they had almost completed and moved that it be recommended to the first general meeting of the Members of the Club that, inrecognition of Mr GeorgeDawson’s valuable services in the formation of the Green – he should either be made a Life Member of the Club or some other mark of esteem be bestowed upon him by the club, also that some recognition be given to James Rae for the careful way in which he has executed the work under Mr Dawson’s directions, and also that votes of thanks be given to MessrsTait & Sons, Wyness and Nares for the gratuitous work they had contributed in the making of the green. This was unanimously agreed to.It was further recommended by the committee to the General Meeting of members that those outside the Burgh and Port Elphinstone, who wished to jointhe club should be admitted as Members on payment of 5/- a sentry money and yearly subscription. It was further resolved that the green should be formally opened on Wednesday 28th May at 5p.m. and that hand bills be posted through out the Town inviting the inhabitants to be present on the occasion. That the Volunteer Band be asked to play at the opening of the Green and be paid £1 for their services, out of the fundsof the club. It was further resolved that Iron standards for four seats, to be placed round the Green be procured and estimates takenfor making them up with Pitch PineBars – also that (subject to theconsent of the Masonic Lodge which the president and other Members, of the Masonic Committee present agreed to procure) the trees be removed from the side of the Masonic Lodge and a broad walk bemake down the centre with turf on each side.It was further resolved that locks be put on both gates of the Green and that one key be given to the Keeper of the Green, another be hung in theMasonic Lodge, and a third in Mr Hopkins shop, also that William Duncan, Gardener be employed to keep the green for one month, the club paying him four pence per hour for his work and that he be instructed to cut and roll the Tennis ground top dress it with fine mould and water it as often as possible.It was remitted to Mr Fowlie, Mr Charles and Mr Tait to draw uprules for the club and submit them to the General Meeting for approval. Signed: Alex Fowlie |
Inverurie Reading Room
28th May 1884 At a General Meeting of the members of the Inverurie Bowling Green and LawnTennis Club held here this evening .Present: Messrs Fowlie,Charles, Dr. Paterson, Messrs J Robertson, Watson, Philip,Ewing ,G. Mearns, Laing, T.Robertson, Dare, Nares,Dawson, James Maitland and Brown. On the recommendation of theCommittee Mr George Dawsonwas elected a life member of the club. It was also agreed to present Mr James Rae with £2 in recognitionof his services in carrying on and completing the work so promptly.The Secretary was instructed to send letters of thanks to Messrs Wyness, Tait & Sons, John Tait, Nares and Peat for the gratuitous work done by them in the making of theGreen. The Members authorised Messrs. Alex Fowlie and Robert Brown to sign the lease on behalf of the Club. Also to extend the Bank Account to £150.00. Signed: Alex Fowlie Inverurie Reading Room
7th June 1884 At a meeting of the Committee of the Inverurie Bowling and Lawn Tennis Club.Present: Messrs Fowlie,Watson, Charles Laing and Brown.Mr. Fowlie President in thechair. The Secretary was instructed to consult with Mr Nares about getting a Lawn Tennis set. It was unanimously resolved that Rule…….be altered to read 13 instead of 21 for one penny.Messrs. J.P. Wilson and Thos.Robertson were appointed Auditors. Signed: Alex Fowlie Inverurie Reading Room
5th July 1884 At a meeting of the Committee of the Inverurie Bowling and Lawn Tennis Club held here this evening. Present: Messrs Fowlie,Charles, Watson, Nares, Laing,Peat and Brown. Mr Fowlie President in thechair. Messrs Laing and Brownwere appointed to settle Mr Milne’s account on the best terms they could. Lawn Tennis to be played under the rules of All England Club.It was agreed to charge one penny for the use of the Clubs Rackets. It was also resolved that no members be allowed to play Tennis without having onshoes suitable for the purpose. Signed: Alex. Fowlie |
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Inverurie Reading Room
25th July 1884 At a meeting of the Committee of the Inverurie Bowling and Lawn Tennis Club held here this evening. Present: Messrs Laing, Nares,Peat, Charles, Tait, Brown and Watson. Mr Laing, Vice President in the Chair. It was agreed to accept the Challenge given by the Huntly Club to play a Match on the 1st August – 12 men on each side,both teams to get Lunch at theBanks of Ury Inn at the Clubs expense at half time. It was also recommended that the players on both sides, get supper at the Gordon Arms Hotel the Inverurie players to pay for the Huntly Men which was agreed to. Signed: James Laing Inverurie Reading Room
6th August 1884 At a meeting of the Committee of the Inverurie Bowling and Lawn Tennis Club held here this evening. Present: Messrs Nares, Tait, Brown and Charles. Mr Nares,Vice President in the Chair. Skips and players were selected to play against the Aberdeen Club and it was agreed to give bread and cheese and a glass of beer or whiskey to players only. As the Inverurie water supply has been cut off the Secretary was authorised to get water carted for the green. Signed: Alex. F. Nares Inverurie Reading Room
19th September 1884 At a meeting of the Committee of the Inverurie Bowling and Lawn Tennis Club held here this evening. Present: Messrs Fowlie, Laing,Charles, Peat and Brown.Mr Fowlie President in the Chair. Mr Laing and the Secretary were instructed to get the pailing painted as soon as possible and to use their own discretion with regard to the quality and colour of the paint to be used. A team was also elected by Ballot to play the return match with Keith on the 27th September and to get the usual refreshments at the clubs expense. It was further resolved to instruct the Keeper of theGreen to fill up all the hollow parts of the Green with a mixture of fine mould and sand during the Autumn and early Spring. Signed: Alex Fowlie, President |
Inverurie Reading Room
25th March 1885 The Annual General Meeting of the Inverurie Bowling and LawnTennis Club was held here this evening .Present: Messrs Fowlie,Hopkins, Peat, Gall, Watson,Laing, Nares, Mearnes, Dare, J.Maitland, Allan, Charles, Ewing and Brown. Mr Fowlie, President, in the Chair. The Secretary submitted the Minutes of Meetings for the year which were read and approved.The Books and Accounts being previously audited on the 20th March by Mr G.A. Wilson and Mr. Thomas Robertson, and found correct, the chairman moved that the Treasurer be discharged of his intromissions for the year which was agreed to. The Election of Office bearers for the year was then proceeded with Sir Frances Grant Bart,Monymusk was elected Patron of the Club. Mr Fowlie was re-elected President and Messrs Nares and Laing were re-elected Vice Presidents. Brown Secretary and Treasurer; Messrs Charles,Watson, Tait, Peat, Dawson,Committee;Mr William Duncan Keeper of the Green was also re-appointed. Mr Dare proposed, seconded by Mr Nares that the Keeper take all orders about keeping the Green through the Secretary only, which was agreed to.It was proposed by Mr Charles that in order to clear off the debt on the Green, anyone making a payment of £5, those without the boundary £2.10p would become a Member until the end of the present lease viz to 1903, with the right to transfer the membership to another person on the approval of the Committee. The meeting highly approved of this proposal which was agreed to. The Chairman and Mr Charles then gave in their names on these terms. It wasfurther proposed by Mr Charles seconded by Mr Gall that juveniles from 10 to 15 years be admitted members toTennis only at the usual chargeof 2/6 each, which after a vote being taken the motion was carried. It was also suggested by Mr Watson that apprentices should be encouraged to join the Bowling Green and that they should be admitted on payment of 5/- to Bowling only. The feeling of the meetingseemed to be in favour of Mr Watson’s proposal which was ultimately agreed to.The Secretary was instructed to call a Special Meeting of the Members to confirm the three motions now proposed, as sufficient notice had not been given previous to the meeting. This was all the business. Signed: Alex Fowlie |