| PRESIDENT | GENTS CHAMPION | |||
| 1875 | R HONEYMAN | JOHN STARK | ||
| 1876 | R HONEYMAN | HENRY WELSH | ||
| 1877 | R HONEYMAN | JAMES D LAWSON | ||
| 1878 | HENRY WELSH | JAMES CHRISTIE | ||
| 1879 | HENRY WELSH | GEORGE STRAITON | ||
| 1880 | BAILIE HALL | W DONALDSON | ||
| 1881 | BAILIE HALL | GEORGE STRAITON (2) | ||
| 1882 | CHARLES COOPER | ROBERT INCH | ||
| 1883 | CHARLES COOPER | GEORGE STRAITON (3) | ||
| 1884 | CHARLES COOPER | P S FAILL | ||
| 1885 | CHARLES COOPER | ANDREW TODD | ||
| 1886 | CHARLES COOPER | ROBERT INCH (2) | ||
| 1887 | JOHN STARK | EDWARD BRUCE | ||
| 1888 | JOHN STARK | T KERR | ||
| 1889 | EDWARD BRUCE | EDWARD BRUCE (2) | ||
| 1890 | EDWARD BRUCE | W STEWART | ||
| 1891 | R ADDISON SMITH | A M MILROY | ||
| 1892 | W J KINLOCH ANDERSON | A STURROCK | ||
| 1893 | W J KINLOCH ANDERSON | J GRAHAMSLAW | ||
| 1894 | R D THOMSON | W HENDERSON | ||
| 1895 | J LYON HAMILTON | W HENDERSON (2) | ||
| 1896 | R WIGHT | EDWARD BRUCE (3) | ||
| 1897 | W ANDERSON | J GRAHAMSLAW (2) | ||
| 1898 | DONALD FISHER | EDWARD BRUCE (4) | ||
| 1899 | W STEWART | T MacGILLIVARY | ||
| 1900 | JAMES ANDERSON | J GRAHAMSLAW (3) | ||
| 1901 | R H BOW | P R BRYCE | ||
| 1902 | W MENELAWS | JOHN MARTIN | ||
| 1903 | ANDREW FERRIER | P R BRYCE (2) | ||
| 1904 | JOHN MARTIN | P R BRYCE (3) | ||
| 1905 | Dr EDMUND PRICE | P R BRYCE (4) | ||
| 1906 | Dr EDMUND PRICE | A M MILROY (2) | ||
| 1907 | ALEXANDER STURROCK | R LAWSON | ||
| 1908 | GEORGE A MUNRO | J D BRUCE | ||
| 1909 | GEORGE A MUNRO | JOHN MARTIN (2) | ||
| 1910 | P R BRYCE | J D BRUCE (2) | ||
| 1911 | J W PITT | JOHN LAWSON | ||
| 1912 | R R PRENTICE | EDWARD BRUCE (5) | ||
| 1913 | EDWARD BRUCE | EDWARD BRUCE (6) | ||
| 1914 | J D BRUCE | JOHN LAWSON (2) | ||
| 1915 | JAMES SHARP | J D BRUCE (3) | ||
| 1916 | JOHN D ROBERTSON | C M BAYLISS | ||
| 1917 | W J SCOTT | W J SCOTT | ||
| 1918 | W G CARRICK | J D BRUCE (4) | ||
| 1919 | D STEWART SMITH | Dr J M MORRISON | ||
| 1920 | JOHN LAWSON | JOHN LAWSON (3) | ||
| 1921 | JOHN LAWSON | J D BRUCE (5) | ||
| 1922 | W MacLEAN | J BROWN | ||
| 1923 | W DONALDSON | C M BAYLISS (2) | ||
| 1924 | T DICK PEAT | JOHN LAWSON (4) | ||
| 1925 | T DICK PEAT | ALEXANDER McEWAN | ||
| 1926 | ARTHUR W ROSS | JOHN LAWSON (5) | ||
| 1927 | ALEX BLACKLAWS | JAMES BROWN | ||
| 1928 | JAMES BROWN | ALEXANDER McEWAN (2) | ||
| 1929 | JAMES C BOYD | ALEXANDER McEWAN (3) | ||
| 1930 | W G MAXWELL | JAMES PAYNE | ||
| 1931 | JAMES BRYCE | ROBERT OGILVIE | ||
| 1932 | A J H EDWARDS | ALEXANDER McEWAN (4) | ||
| 1933 | RITCHIE SEATH | ALEXANDER McEWAN (5) | ||
| 1934 | J STEWART LAMB | ALEXANDER McEWAN (6) | ||
| 1935 | GEORGE L HAY | ALEXANDER McEWAN (7) | ||
| 1936 | JOHN TURNER | ALEXANDER McEWAN (8) | ||
| 1937 | ALEXANDER McEWAN | C M BAYLISS (3) | ||
| 1938 | JOHN D ISDALE | ROBERT BEE | ||
| 1939 | JOHN WISHART | JOHN WOOD | ||
| 1940 | W PURVIS | ROBERT BEE (2) | ||
| 1941 | G E ROBERTSON | ALEXANDER McEWAN (9) | ||
| 1942 | THOMAS J ADAIR | ALEXANDER McEWAN (10) | ||
| 1943 | F W MELVILLE | ROBERT BRYDON | ||
| 1944 | ANDREW RAE | J R SWAN | ||
| 1945 | ROBERT BRYDON | RICHARD E MUIR | ||
| 1946 | THOMAS H MAIR | ROBERT BRYDON (2) | ||
| 1947 | ALEX BEATTIE | DAVID McCALLUM | ||
| 1948 | A A BREMNER | ALEXANDER McEWAN (11) | ||
| 1949 | DAVID McCALLUM | DAVID BAIRD | ||
| 1950 | ADAM TAIT | ALEX RAE | ||
| 1951 | DAVID A BELL | W J MILLER | ||
| 1952 | THOMAS SCOTT | ALEX RAE (2) | ||
| 1953 | G A DICKSON | ALEX RAE (3) | ||
| 1954 | C E CHANDLER | G McFARLANE | ||
| 1955 | W D HOBSON | WALTER COSSAR | ||
| 1956 | W D HOBSON | S D WILSON | ||
| 1957 | J R SWAN | D MELROSE | ||
| 1958 | BEN HORSBURGH | WALTER COSSAR (2) | ||
| 1959 | D D WALKER | G YOUNG | ||
| 1960 | JOHN S DAVIS | WALTER COSSAR (3) | ||
| 1961 | J Y SUTHERLAND CBE | WALTER COSSAR (4) | ||
| 1962 | W MICHIE | G McFARLANE | ||
| 1963 | J BROWN | DAVID McCALLUM (2) | ||
| 1964 | L LUCAS | D MELROSE (2) | ||
| 1965 | D FINDLAY | D MELROSE (3) | ||
| 1966 | D FINDLAY | G F GRIEVE | ||
| 1967 | P L GIBSON | J SELKIRK | ||
| 1968 | C M WISEMAN | C M WISEMAN | ||
| 1969 | J SELKIRK | D MELROSE (4) | ||
| 1970 | S WHEELER | J SELKIRK (2) | ||
| 1971 | D BARRON | A BINNIE | ||
| 1972 | W ROSS | D MELROSE (5) | ||
| 1973 | J W THOMSON | D MELROSE (6) | ||
| 1974 | W D HOBSON | D ROSS | ||
| 1975 | F T BUTCHART | D ROSS (2) | ||
| 1976 | G W G DREW | A BINNIE (2) | ||
| 1977 | R KERR | R KERR | ||
| 1978 | J STRACHAN | L LUCAS | ||
| 1979 | D FINDLAY | J CURRIE | ||
| 1980 | H BLAIR | D HAY | ||
| 1981 | R SANDILANDS | D ROSS (3) | ||
| 1982 | R LAMBETH | D ROSS (4) | ||
| 1983 | R LAMBETH | D ROSS (5) | ||
| 1984 | R LAMBETH | R FLEMING | ||
| 1985 | R SANDILANDS | D ROSS (6) | ||
| 1986 | T SMITH | D ROSS (7) | ||
| 1987 | W S WEIR | D ROSS (8) | ||
| 1988 | W S WEIR | W D BURNS | ||
| 1989 | D McFARLANE | W D BURNS (2) | ||
| 1990 | A J SNEDDON | W D BURNS (3) | ||
| 1991 | R S McGLASHAN | W D BURNS (4) | ||
| 1992 | R CLINKSCALE | W D BURNS (5) | ||
| 1993 | W CRUICKSHANKS | W D BURNS (6) | ||
| 1994 | C YOUNG | D W GOSS | ||
| 1995 | R S McGLASHAN | G THOMSON | ||
| 1996 | T A ROBB | A McGLYNN | ||
| 1997 | T A ROBB | S FERGUSON | ||
| 1998 | G M TAYLOR | A SCOTT | ||
| 1999 | G A MURRAY | G A WILSON | ||
| 2000 | T A ROBB | G A WILSON (2) | ||
| 2001 | A M KEARSLEY | A SCOTT (2) | ||
| 2002 | Mrs E ROBB | R MANSON | ||
| 2003 | T McDONALD | G THOMSON (2) | ||
| 2004 | A MANSON | W S WEIR | ||
| 2005 | J M COSSAR | D M McKAY | ||
| 2006 | R MANSON | R MANSON (2) | ||
| 2007 | F WELSH | G THOMSON (3) | ||
| 2008 | Mrs E ROBB | G THOMSON (4) | ||
| 2009 | Mrs E ROBB | P MANSON |
The Early Years
The Mayfield Bowling Club was established in 1874. The records of the Scottish Office show that the Mayfield Bowling Club acquired a plot of ground on the Waverley Park Estate on 25th August 1874. The Waverley Park Estate belonged to Duncan McLaren who resided in Newington House and was at that time the Member of Parliament for South Edinburgh.
Duncan McLaren was City Treasurer in 1837 and Lord Provost from 1851 to 1854. He purchased the area now known as the Waverley Park Estate in 1863 for £16,000. He appointed David Cousin, Architect to draw up a feuing plan for the estate. The building work commenced in 1864 when the first feu charter was granted and by the time of Duncan McLaren's death in 1886 the lands of Mayfield were almost wholly built on.
The feu superiority remained in the hands of McLaren's trustees until 1909 when the General Trustees of the Church of Scotland bought it over.
Since the early days of the occupation the area has been a popular one with professional, business and trades people. The villas built on the estate were to be of value not less than £1300.
The Trustees for the Mayfield Bowling Club were: William Raffin, Builder, Peter Lang, Accountant of the Commercial Bank of Scotland, Joseph Dawson Wormald, Writer to the Signet, J. C. Stewart, Clothier, John T. Pillans, Clerk in the General Post Office, Robert Blair, Confectioner, and Peter Campbell, Carpet Manufacturer.
The Trustees were part of a group of gentlemen residing in the Newington district who met to form the Mayfield Bowling Club. Others in the group were Robert Honeyman, 13 Mayfield Street, William McDonald, M.A., Mayfield Street, Henry Welsh, 13 Minto Street, A. A. Trail, 4 Peel Terrace, Hugh Rose, Blackford Avenue, John McLaren, 46 Moray Place, C. A. Cooper, 27 Blacket Place, George Chalmers, 7 Brights Crescent, James H, Smith, 52 Blacket Place and John Stark, 1 Cobden Road. The actual meeting place of the initial meetings is unknown.
The Bowling Club having acquired the ground appointed W. Gorrie, Architect, to lay out the green and plan the building of the Clubhouse. For this work he was paid £30. Building and work on the green was started in August 1874 and completed early in 1875.
The green had four rinks running east and west and six rinks north and south. Four of the rinks running north and south were only 35 yards in length.
The total cost of laying the green and building of the clubhouse was £734. This was met by the issue of £5 shares. £400 was raised by this means and the remainder was met by a loan from the Union Bank of Scotland.
A member who purchased a £5 share received a yearly dividend of 5/3. There was an entry fee of £1, 1s. 0d. and an annual subscription of £1, 1s. 0d. The membership in 1875 was 56. Shareholders numbering 33 and Ordinary members 23.
The green was opened for play on Saturday, 22nd May 1875. The advertisement in the Scotsman on Friday, 21st May 1875 reads as follows: “Mayfield Bowling Club-The green will be opened tomorrow Saturday, 22nd May 1875, at 4 o'clock and the Treasurer will attend at 2 o'clock to admit members."
Mr Robert Honeyman was the Club's first President. Mr William Macdonald, M.A., the first Secretary and Treasurer. The Club did not appoint a vice-president until 1882. Mr A. A. Trail was Green Ranger.
The number of members increased each year and by 1884 the century had been reached.
In 1878 the Club together with Edinburgh, Drumdryan, Lutton Place, Summerside, West End and Hillside formed the group known then as The Edinburgh and Leith Associated Bowling Clubs. The membership of the Edinburgh and Leith Bowling Association is now 55 clubs. The Mayfield minutes give us very detailed reports of the trophy games held during the early years of the competition. The report for 1883 reads:”The sixth annual competition for the trophy of the Association was played for yesterday afternoon simultaneously on seven of the greens of the association. Each of the eight clubs (Northern being the latest addition to the Association) was represented by four rinks, making 128 players. According to the rules no two rinks of the same club could compete against each other and no players were allowed to play on their own green. The weather was very favourable and the greens were in fine order, some capital play was shown, three of the rinks finishing level. After the match, the result was read by Mr Brown, interim secretary, on the green of the present holders (Drumdryan). The result was that Summerside were declared winners by 53 shots."
Mayfield have been winners of this trophy on only one occasion 1933.
Finances and Improvements
The overdraft at the Union Bank in 1875 was £324. The next ten years saw no improvement in the bank balance. In 1885 a Special General Meeting was called by the trustees and a Few members who were concerned about the Club's financial position. The meeting formed a committee under the convenership of Mr R. Addison Smith with a view to reducing the debt. The outcome was a new issue of shares was made available to the members, and by 1888 the overdraft was reduced to £116, 16s. 8d. The number of shares was now 117. This rather depleted the annual intake from subscriptions as each share was worth 5/3 in dividend. Anyone holding four shares paid no annual subscription. In 1889 the annual Fee was raised to £1, 5s. 0d. The shares were gradually bought by the Club at a much reduced price and many members gifted their shares to the Club. The result was that by 1950 there were no shareholders in the Club. The Club jubilee was held in 1925. Alterations to the clubhouse in 1925 cost £317 with the kitchen and toilet accommodation being extended. The money was raised by donations £ 145, and loans by the members of £ 155, at 4% interest. The loans were all repaid to the members by 1931.
The green was for many years one of the chief concerns of the members. Many suggestions were made and many attempts to acquire extra ground to extend and square the playing surface. In 1945, the house at 27 Mayfield Gardens was for sale. This was just what the secretary, John Wishart, had been waiting for. The garden of this house was the boundary on the south side of the green. By acquiring the ground the green could be extended. The house was purchased for £2800. The money was raised by the members as a loan to the Club. The necessary ground was taken from the garden of the house and the house was resold for the price paid plus the legal fees. The ground was gained by the Club without cost. John Wishart who was secretary of the Club during this period was undoubtedly one of the outstanding officials of the Club during the past century.
The Ways and Means Committee formed to deal with the extension received an estimate from Maxwell Hart of £1325. This estimate was accepted by the committee and the green was closed for the 1945 season on the 15th September and the alterations proceeded with. The green was extended southwards and was now a rectangle 42 yards by 40 yards.
The members, who at this time numbered 100, raised £829 in donations and loans at 2% interest accounted for £395. The remainder of the £1472 which was the ultimate cost of the extension was raised by a Christmas Draw (£105) and from the Club revenue account. All these loans were repaid to the members by 1952.
The next few years were spent by the committee looking into various ideas to improve the clubhouse accommodation. Mr David McCallum who was at this time secretary of the Club and an architect drew various plans and submitted them to the committee. None of these plans matured.
In February 1956, the secretary was in contact with the Ministry of Works re the sale of Army Huts at Alnwickhill, Liberton. These huts were viewed by the committee and one was eventually purchased for £180. The hut was dismantled and erected at Mayfield on a brick base. This work was undertaken by J. R. Swan, Building Contractors. Mr Swan was Vice-President of the Club. It was estimated by the various tradesmen of the Club that the cost would be in the region of £1300.
The building, plumbing, painting, etc. was completed by July 1956. The new clubhouse was officially opened in April 1957. The total cost was £1600.
To finance the addition the Club obtained a loan from Edinburgh Corporation of £1000. The loan had an interest rate of 5%. Donations and loans from the members covered the balance. All these loans have now been repaid. The Club is now in a very favourable financial position.
Many improvements have been made to the interior of the clubhouse since it was built in 1956. The bar has been extended. New lighting and heating installed and plumbing improved. The Club members have been mainly responsible for the decoration and various additions made to the clubhouse. The members have always been willing helpers when any alterations are suggested. The Mayfield Club is extremely grateful for the splendid co-operation from the members during the past years.
Presidents and Personalities
The Club has been fortunate during the past century in its choice of presidents. These gentlemen have all played their part in shaping the position of the Club today. Each president will no doubt consider his year or years of office as the most important in the Club's history.
The first president, Robert Honeyman was a very active member during the Club's early years. His son, Robert Honeyman, Jun. and son-in-law, J. H. Dixon and the sons of Mr Dixon, Robert Dixon and Douglas Honeyman Dixon, gave many years of valuable service to the Club. Douglas H. Dixon is now a member of the Brunstane Club.
Henry Welsh, president 1878-9, was the very generous donor of the Championship Trophy (1875) and the Rink Medal in 1877. He was the first Mayfield representative to the Edinburgh and Leith Bowling Association formed in 1878.
The Smith family were very prominent members during the first seventy-five years. James H. Smith, one of the founder members-was followed by his son R. Addison Smith, president 1891 and his grandson D. Stewart Smith, president in 1919.
George Chalmers was one of the members who never became president but served as Green Ranger for 18 years from 1880 to 1898. During the term of his office many improvements were made to the green. The drainage was improved and the banks returfed. The paths surrounding the green were re-laid. Mr Chalmers was the last of the founder members. He died in 1906.
Edward Bruce, senior president 1889-90, and his sons Edward, Junior, president 1913 and James, president 1914. All three won the Club Championship. The two Edwards were both successful in winning during their year as president.
The Bryce family must also be mentioned as one of the many families who have been a feature of the Club membership. P. R. Bryce president 1910 and his son James, president 1931, both very active members for many years.
John Stark, I Cobden Road, Clothier, president in 1887-8, was a partner in the well known draper business in the South Bridge. He was the first champion of the Club in 1875. His niece who is still resident in Edinburgh aged 93 was able to give quite a good account of the early years of the Club to which she was a regular visitor.
John Lawson, S.S.c. joined the Mayfield Club in 1898. He served the Club as secretary for 13 years, 1903 to 1916. John was president 1920-21, green ranger from 1923 to 1933. He was the first secretary of the Edinburgh and Leith Ex-President's Association, formed 1924, and arranged the first game with the Glasgow Ex-Presidents. He was elected a member of the S.B.A. Council in 1924. Later he was appointed auditor to the S.B.A. and made an honorary member in 1936. John was probably the outstanding official and member of the Club during the past century. He was a keen bowler winning the Championship on five occasions. He was still an active member at the time of his death in 1944.
The office of treasurer was filled by Charles M. Bayliss for a period of 17 years, 1913 to 1930. When he first took office the Club was £7, 13s. 0d. in debt and in 1930 the balance in favour of the Club was £16, Os. 8d. Charles was a very fine bowler, representing the Club in Scottish and local competitions. He won the Championship on three occasions.
Alexander McEwan, President in 1937, was the first Mayfield member to be President of the Edinburgh and Leith Bowling Association 1939. He was a Scottish international in 1938-9, winner of the Mayfield Championship eleven times and the Whitehouse and Grange Championship in 1945.
It is not widely known that Andrew H. Hamilton, 10 Mentone Terrace, was nominated and accepted as a member of the Mayfield Club on the 7th April 1921. He was at that time secretary of the Scottish Bowling Association. He was a regular attendee at the Club dinners. He resigned from the Club in 1946.
John Wishart, president 1939, was one of the members who served the Club with distinction. He was secretary from 1933 to 1937 and again from 1941 to 1946. It was during his latter period as secretary that the green was extended. A complimentary dinner was held in his honour in the Grand Restaurant on 2nd May 1947, and a presentation made to Mr and Mrs Wishart.
The Club was again honoured by the Edinburgh and Leith Bowling Association when they appointed David McCallum as president in 1962. David joined Mayfield in 1937, president 1949, secretary from 1952 to 1960. He was secretary when the Club embarked on the addition to the clubhouse accommodation and was mainly responsible for the purchase of the hut and the negotiations with the Corporation for the loan.
The City Council was well represented in the Mayfield Club. Sir W. L. Sleigh, Lord Provost, was a member for many years. Councillors Mackinnon, Hunter, Moncur and West Russell were very active members in the years between the two world wars.
It is not possible to name everyone who has given excellent service to the Club during the past century. The Club take this opportunity of expressing their appreciation for all various duties and the generosity of many of the members who have contributed to the Club's success.
The Club Badge
The Club Badge was designed by John S. Davies in 1958.
Games on the Green
The first match ever played by the Club was with Whitehouse and Grange Bowling Club. This game was played on the 14th July 1877 on the green at Hope Terrace. The return game took place on the 30th July 1877. The Clubs have played games yearly since the first game was arranged and are "OW members of the Southern League formed in 1962.
The Braid Club played a game against Mayfield on 23rd June 1898 on the Braid green resulting in a win for the Braid Club by 84 shots. This is the highest score recorded by any club against Mayfield. The return match on the Mayfield green on the 29th June 1898 was a victory for Mayfield by 5 shots.
In 1903, the Edinburgh Corporation Bowling Club played the first of many fixtures. Many well-known councillors were members of the Mayfield Club. Bailie Hall, Councillor Kinloch Anderson, Councillor George L. Hay, Councillor Stewart Lamb and City Officer George E. Robertson, have all served as presidents of the Mayfield Club.
The West End Club played at Mayfield on Thursday, 26th May 1904. The result was a win for West End by nine shots. The return game at West End green on Friday, 8th July 1904 resulting in a win for Mayfield by eight shots.
The next club to be added to the list of fixtures was Craigmillar Park. Mayfield winning this game by 64 shots. The date, Thursday, 8th June 1905.
Games were arranged and played with The Merchiston Club on 1st July 1913 and the 8th July 1913. Both games were won by Mayfield.
The First World War 1914-1918 caused many of the annual fixtures to be cancelled and no new matches were arranged. The games were resumed after the war. Lutton Place and Blackhall Clubs were added to the list. The second sixteen was suggested and formed in 1924 and games were now played on the two sixteen basis.
Games were played with Edinburgh Education Authority, Mayfield having a number of headmasters and teachers as members.
The green extension in 1946 was a considerable asset to the Club and further fixtures were arranged with Loanhead, Trinity and Granton Gas Works.
The new clubhouse built in 1956 was the commencement of a new era for the Club; many touring teams visited the Club. Aberdon Bowlers Touring Club were the first ever touring club to visit Mayfield (1957). Further visits were made in 1959 and 1973. Aberdon have always been welcome visitors.
Wiltshire County Tourists (The Moonrakers) 1958, Lincolnshire County Bowls Association 1958, The Ulster Bowlers Touring Club 1959, The Harleston Bowls Club, North Fife Touring Club, and The Shaftsbury Bowling Club, Belfast have all been entertained by the Mayfield members.
The Club had the pleasure of entertaining two members from The Mayfield Bowling Club, Newcastle, Australia. A special game was arranged for the visit of Mr George Davidson and Mr Templeton in 1966. Since the visit of Mr Davidson, other members of the Australian Club have visited our green.
With the formation of the Southern League in 1962 many of the friendly matches with clubs outside the area could not be undertaken. The fixtures with Loanhead and Granton Gas Works still continue. The only other friendly fixture is with the South Side Unionists Club.
The Distillers Company Limited Scotland have been guests at Mayfield on a number of occasions. A game has been arranged during the centenary year between the two clubs.
Achievements on the Green
It was some 59 years after the Club was established that a local trophy was won. This was the 1st XVI trophy in 1933. During this period the Club were fortunate in having the services of two international players, namely, Robert Ogilvie (1932) and Alex McEwan (1938-9). Alex won the Mayfield Championship eleven times and was a winner of the Tait Trophy in 1935.
The Tait Trophy was won by Alex Rae (1950) and by Walter Cossar (1960). Walter had won the Trophy in 1949 before he joined the Mayfield Club in 1954 and gained international honours in 1962. His untimely death at the height of his bowling career was a grievous loss to the Club.
