3) That a committee of six respectable persons in the village of Aberfeldy and Neighbourhood be named by Lord Breadalbane to admit by ballot members, and each member when so admitted, having a voice in balloting for others;

4) That the Club be governed by strict rules punishable by a fine.

Present: John Campbell, Croftness, Chairman; William P MacKenzie, Aberfeldy; William Munro, Aberfeldy; James Wyllie, Bolfracks House; and Thomas Smith, Bolfracks Cottage (Secretary Treasurer).

From the minutes of this meeting, it would appear that bowls had been played for some time previously and, strange to say, the next meeting did not take place until two years later on 18th May 1861, when the Club was formed and called Aberfeldy Bowling Club. Office bearers were elected and Lord Breadalbane granted the use of the green to the Club on condition that one rink be reserved for tourists from the Hotel and strangers residing in Aberfeldy.

Those gentlemen were the pioneers of the Bowling Club and were subsequently joined by most of the leading businessmen in the village, prominent among whom were the following initial members; Robert Fisher, Baker; Robert Adams, Baker; Duncan Cameron, Bookseller; C W L Forbes, Banker; John Harrower, Watchmaker; Thomas Fyffe, Stationmaster; William Campbell, Clothier; L McLean, John McLean, Borlick; Dr Munro; James McKerchar; Robert McLean RN; John, Douglas, Alex McLean; George MacKenzie, Borlick.

In those early years, the ballot box was in force and Office Bearers and new members had to go through
the mill, one black ball in three debarred the aspirants but very few were refused admission to the membership of the Club. At a meeting in the year 1867 when the Secretary Treasurer’s Cash Statement showed a substantial balance, it was proposed and seconded and carried unanimously that the refreshments consumed during the evening should be paid for out of the funds.

The game of bowls, with the exception of curling, is perhaps the oldest of our outdoor recreations in Aberfeldy. The old green at the entrance to the Falls of Moness was beautifully situated and was kept in good order. Being thickly surrounded by trees, however, players who were non-smokers suffered greatly from midges, but this did not damp their enthusiasm for the game on a beautiful summers evening.

The membership of the Club increased with the years, and matches were played against all the neighbouring towns:- Pitlochry, Dunkeld, Blair Atholl, Crieff, etc with whom Aberfeldy held its own. Prominent players between the late 1870’s and the end of the century were: Malcolm McGregor; John Cameron (Painter); Peter Fisher; A R Archibald; W L Wood Snr; John Fernie; Robert Irvine; Dr Haggart; Findlay Ross; James McGregor; Provost Campbell; W R Stewart; and Thomas Fyfe.
[This being the last entry]

J P McKenna
1st August 1983

The Old Clubhouse