LUNDIN BOWLING CLUB HISTORY
This charming view of bowlers in action on the green at Lundin Links is undated but gives an idea of how the bowling green and neighbouring tennis courts must have been a hive of activity during the busy summer seasons in Lundin Links during the early twentieth century.
The Courier article lists in detail the names of those present at the event. The long list includes some names which may be familiar: Sir John and Lady Gilmour and Lieutenant Harry Gilmour, Montrave; Mr, Mrs and Miss Russell of Silverburn; Mr and Mrs Lumsden, Aithernie; Mr James Curr, factor, Largo Estates; Mr and Miss Forgan of Sunnybraes; Miss Hick of Ravenswood; Walter Horne, local builder; and Miss Bremner of Lundin Links Post Office. It would be great to match names to the faces in the picture. If you think you can help with this, please get in touch.
The opening ceremony itself involved speeches which included reference to Sir John Gilmour's...
"efforts to make Lundin Links the excellent summer resort it now was, and having had twice to fight the North British Railway Company in order to compel them to stop all trains at the station. They were further indebted to him for granting them the ground .... and also for having advanced them £700 to assist them in the construction and equipment of the clubhouse and green."
Lady Gilmour opened the green by throwing the first jack and was presented with a silver jack. Sir John was presented with a pair of silver-mounted bowls. A competitive match was then played. Remarkably, if you look at the Lundin Bowling Club's website today, the clubhouse looks basically the same but extended.
To this day we still start off the season at the Opening of the Green with the same silver jack!