Copyright © Postal Bowling Club
The Postal Bowling Club was instituted in 1889 to cater for bowlers in the employment of the Post Office, to whom full right of membership were reserved. A limited number of associate members (non-postal employees) were admitted but were prohibited from holding any executive office in the club.
In time, with the spread of the city and improved transport, the tendency grew for postal employees to seek housing on the city outskirts. As a result postal recruitment to the club suffered and a greater number of non-postal members were admitted.
Despite this change in personnel the old constitution was retained until 1944, when it was agreed to alter the rule permitting other than postal employees to hold the office of President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer. The members were unanimous on retaining the original name of the club in order that it might still attract members from Post Office.
Play in the early days was on the public greens - Montgomery Street being the home venue. But in 1908 the club took over, on a rental basis, the present green from the Parsons Green Bowling Club who had moved to Craigentinny.
In 1948 the club took a major step forward. The present green was purchased and became the property of the club. Ever since, green-keepers and green rangers have had an unenviable task of maintaining and improving the standard of the green, part of which was originally the lawn of Parsons Green House.
It was proposed by the Committee at a special meeting in January 1962 that the green be completely lifted, levelled and relaid. The members voted against this proposal by 12-57, due to the cost factor. However, since 1962 large amounts of money have been spent on improving the playing surface and bankings of the green.
Further alterations were carried out in 1980 when an automatic watering system was installed, securing the protection of the green through the peak summer period. The following year floodlighting was installed, enabling the club to extend the bowling season.
The club members were very much involved in the aforementioned installations. In fact, since severing its ties with the Post Office the club has had many members willing to devote time and effort to the management side of the club. A special mention is in order for Mr. D.A. Dickson who for 18 years held the office of Secretary, a period of time which earned Mr. Dickson the respect and admiration of the membership. Mr. Dickson was honoured with the Presidency of the Club in its Centenary year of 1989.
Since its inception, the club has had its share of honours. Early awards were; 1898 Joint League Champions E. & L.P.B.C. Association, 1904 Gibson Shield Winners, 1904 League Champions, E. & L.P.B.C. Association 3rd Division. Worthy of a mention are George Robertson and Walter F. Mair (1933/34, 1946-50) who have had the honour of representing Scotland in International matches on several occasions; together with John Thomson, D.A. Dickson, A.W. McInnes and D. McLean who have all represented E.&L.B.A. in the Hamilton Trophy. Walter F. Mair and Alan W. McInnes between them have also been club champions on no less than 24 occasions.
In 1961 the East Edinburgh League formed with Postal being one of the founder clubs - Craigentinny, Hillside, Willowbrae, Abbey and Holyrood, London Road Foundry and Brunstane being the others. In 1964 D.A. Dickson became Postal's first President of the East Edinburgh League. The East League continues, but in a reduced form.
In 1955 plans were completed for the building of a new clubhouse, and in the following year the new building was officially opened by the club's oldest member, Mr. Alex Gall, and Honorary and Past-President of the Club - Mr. W. Edmonstone being President at that time.
Further developments to our clubhouse have taken place since 1955, forming the present-day clubrooms consisting of gent's and ladies locker rooms, kitchen, lounge and main hall with bar. These extended facilities enable the management committee to encourage the social side of the club over the winter period.
1889 JMP McDonald
1890-02 J. Bishop
1893 J. Garden
1894-05 D. Ross
1896-07 D. Hutton
1898-09 H. Anderson
1900-01 J. Hunter
1902-03 J. Grant
1904-06 D. Kerr
1907 J.W. Stirling
1908-09 J. Grant
1910-13 J. Smart
1914-18 E. Davies
1919 G. Simpson
1920-21 G.A. Wilson
1922-23 Wm. Phillips
1924 G. Colley
1925-26 Wm. McBryde
1927-30 Alex. Gall
1931-32 A.L. Graham
1933 J. Clyde
1934-39 C.A. Callander
1940-41 P. Malcolmson
1942-43 W.F. Mair
1944 J. Molphy
1945 W. Bey
1946-47 J. Molphy
1948-50 J. Young
1951-52 J. McNab
1953-55 T. McRae
1956-57 W. Edmonstone
1958 W. Leadbetter
1959 G.A. Dudgeon
1960 J.R. Bryden
1961 J.W. Crombie
1962 J.D. Ross
1963-64 D.G. Nisbet
1965-66 G.W. Skinner
1967-68 R.G. Morrison
1969-70 A. Dickens
1971-72 J. Anderson
1973 J. Syme
1974 J.L. Semple
1975-76 J. Moxey
1977 R.J. McLean
1978 G.B. Sinclair
1979 D.A. Dickson
1980 A.W. McInnes
1981-82 A. McDonald
1983 G.N.P. Marshall
1984 Geo. Smith
1985 I. Gilroy
1986-87 J. Rodger
1988 W.K. Wilson
1989 D.A. Dickson
1990 S. Meachan
1991 J. Munson
1992 K. Murray
1993 P.V. Clark
1994 Geo. Smith
1995 A.C. Stuart
1996 R.K. Forbes
1997 J. Hood
1998 G.N.P. Marshall
1999 Jas. Marshall
2000-01 K. Black
2002 K. Murray
2003 M. McVey
2004 W. Sandilands
2005 D. Hall (Eng)
2006-07 R. Moxey
2008 T. Kivlin
1889 Jas. Bishop
1890 W. Adamson
1891-92 D. Hutton
1893 R. Hemstead
1894-95 A.R. Bishop
1896 D. Hutton
1897 A.R. Bishop
1898-99 D. Hutton
1900 R. Hemstead
1901 R. Thomson
1902 Jas. Bishop
1903-07 O. Kerr
1908 J. Munro
1909 A.R. Bishop
1910 A.W. Grubb
1911 Jas. Bishop
1912 A.R. Bishop
1913 J.A. Alexander
1914 A.R. Bishop
1915 No
1916 Competition
1917 Due to
1918 Great War
1919 J.A. Alexander
1920 A. Gall
1921 G.A. Wilson
1922 J. Small
1923 McK. Gall
1924 A. McInnes
1925 R.W. Johnstone
1926 J. Payne
1927 J. Sharp
1928 D. Tait
1929 W.F. Mair
1930 H. Simpson
1931-32 J.A. Alexander
1933 W. Phillips
1934 W.F. Mair
1935 J. Johnstone
1936-37 W.F. Mair
1938 C.A. Callander
1939-42 W.F. Mair
1943 J. McNab
1944 W.K. Brown
1945 R. Watson
1946-49 W.F. Mair
1950-51 E. Turnbull
1952 R. Paul
1953 J. Somers
1954 J. Bryden
1955 W. Barrie
1956 J. Stevenson
1957 W. Edmonstone
1958-60 W.F. Mair
1961 R. Paul
1962 D.A. Dickson
1963 W.M. Paul
1964 R. Paul
1965 J. Walker
1966 J. Thomson
1967 A.W. McInnes
1968 J. Thomson
1969-70 K. Reid
1971 W. Purves
1972 A.W. McInnes
1973 G. Welsh
1974-75 A.W. McInnes
1976 D.R. McLean
1977 J. Anderson
1978 A.W. McInnes
1979 K. McLean
1980-81 A.W. McInnes
1982 D.R. McLean
1983 J. Marshall
1984-85 A.W. McInnes
1986 D. McLean
1987 T. Kivlin
1988 R. Duncan
1989-90 A.W. McInnes
1991 K.G. Rice
1992 Jas. Marshall
1993-94 K.G. Rice
1995 Jas. Marshall
1996 M. McVey
1997 D.G. McIntee
1998 Gary Smith
1999 Jas. Marshall
2000 A.W. McInnes
2001 E. Murray
2002 C. Berra (Fra)
2003 C. Turnbull
2004 M. McVey
2005 A.W. McInnes
2006 E. Murray
2007 C. Bain
2008 N. Rooney
2009 E. Young
