CBC NEWS
January 2018
Dear member: Welcome to the latest edition of the CBC News.
A happy and healthy New Year to you and your family and best wishes for success on the Bowling Green
in 2018. It was certainly a great Hogmanay in the Club where a good crowd gathered to welcome in the
New Year. Not as many members as perhaps there should have been, but thanks to Charlie Sweeney and
Pat and Ron Clark for inviting their families and friends, the place was buzzing.
If you are suffering from the “winter blues” I have the perfect solution for you. Come along to the Club
next Saturday 27th January for 7:30 for our Scottish Evening. The main Act is our own home grown
group, The Chancers, minus John McPhail who is currently dodging cyclones in Western Australia
awaiting the arrival of his newest grandchild. Bill Cumming will also give us a couple of tunes on the
pipes and Joan and Eric McBain’s daughter, Mandy who is a member of the Scottish Fiddle Orchestra
will also be entertaining us. Tickets are priced at £5 and should be paid as soon as possible. The Scottish
theme continues with the hot buffet (I’ve heard that Stovies and Haggis may be on offer).
It all promises to be yet another great night and if you are taking part in “Dry January” we have a large
range of non-alcoholic drinks behind the bar.
AGM
The Club’s AGM will take place at 7pm on Wednesday 7th February and it is hoped there will be the
usual good attendance. It is in everyone’s interest to come along to the AGM as it is your club and in
these times when many Bowling Clubs are struggling both financially and membership numbers you
should be interested to hear how your Club is being managed.
It is encouraging to note that a few of our “newer” members have put their names forward for committee.
There is still time to add your name to the list in the corridor if you wish to be considered for committee.
Bowling Issues
The Gents Annual Bowling Meeting which used to follow the AGM is now likely to take place towards
the end of March – we will give confirmation of the date ASAP. The Ladies and Seniors Committees will
be meeting within the next week at which they will discuss dates for their Annual Meetings.
Opening Day is Saturday 14th April and the first EBL matches are Monday 30th for Ladies and
Wednesday 2nd May for Gents. The first North & West Seniors match will be on Tuesday 1st May. I
attended the EBL AGM in December at which there was a plea from two Senior Umpires for assistance.
(See also notice board in corridor).There are now less than 10 Umpires to cover all the semi-finals and
finals in the Area. There is a 10 week Umpires Course (2 hours on a Sunday) and the first course started
at Bainfield BC on 14th January for 10 volunteers which our own Iain and Marcia Norton attended. The
EBL have paid the £30 cost for each. Further courses will be arranged and if anyone is interested please
contact David Sutherland in the first instance.
Around the Green.
Work carries on throughout the winter and the whole Green was tined (spiked) at the end of November.
The cold weather has prevented further work but Gordon Munro hopes to tine the Green again in
February as well as removing the cores of earth to improve aeration and encourage deeper grass roots.
There is some disease on the Green at present but this will be treated when the weather improves. It is
also planned to employ Consultants to carry out a soil analysis which in turn will determine our care
programme for the next few years. Give Gordon a call if you can help with some of this work.
In the Clubhouse
Bill Cumming has put up a list of work to be done on the white board at the far end of the corridor. Have
a look at the list and if you can help, put your name down against the item and let Bill know. Any
materials required will be supplied. The list ranges from paint jobs, to small repairs, to extending the
Ladies’ Honours Board.
Membership
Overall membership remains fairly stable although Ladies’ numbers are lower than they have been for
some years. The Committee has been active in trying to recruit including taking a stand at St Anne’s
Church Open Day and donating Try Bowls vouchers at School Christmas raffles. They will also be
passing a poster and leaflets to Corstorphine Rugby Club as well as approaching local Scout
Organisations. Try Bowls sessions will again take place at the beginning and throughout the season so if
you know of any family/neighbours etc. who could be interested please let us know.
Bar
We have decided to close the bar on Wednesdays throughout January due to lack/no business (No one in
Club during 6 of the previous 9 Wednesdays). We will review again after the AGM.
General
Security – another unsuccessful attempt was made to break into the Club over the New Year period. An
attempt was made to ‘jemmy up’ the window at the far end of the lounge which resulted in it cracking. It
will have to be replaced in due course. Remember to be vigilant around the Club making sure windows
are closed and curtains drawn at the end of the night.
Ally Gibson has again organised a competition for the Rugby 6 Nations. Guess the scores for each match
and the winner will receive half of the money collected with the rest going to the Club. Entries cost £2
and forms are available on the bar.
Congratulations to John Cowe who is this month’s 100 Club winner.
Red Bins no more – we will be changing our Waste Collection Service shortly following months of
unsatisfactory service from BIFFA when bins have been left out on the street for days on end. A local
company, NWH Group, will take over in February. So look out for the blue bins.
Significant birthdays: Many happy returns to Bob Honeyman and Bernie Callaghan who are
celebrating significant birthdays this month.
Dates for the diary:-
Saturday 24th February 7:30 – the return of singer/comedian Robbie Carron who many said
was the best entertainment they had seen at the Club. He was with us at Christmas 2016 and
certainly knows how to entertain. List will be up in Club soon. Price £8.
Scotland plays England in the 6 Nations on the same day with a 4:45 kick-off so why not make a
day of it. Come and watch the game and stay for the Act. If you happen to be going to
Murrayfield, the match will finish at 6:30 so there will be ample time to get to the Club (you
might need cheering up if England give us a thumping)
Saturday 24th March 7:30- Acoustic Songbook – Olivia Fleming on vocals and Ronnie Garrity
on acoustic guitar will perform a selection of songs by artists including Carole King, Randy
Crawford, Ed Sheeran, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin and Janis Joplin. It promises to be a very
entertaining night. Tickets £8.
Jim Connor, Interim Editor