Pickie Bowling Club

TRY THE NEW ALTERNATIVE PICKIE WEBSITE

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Although this website is still fully operational
Pickie Bowling Club has a 'new look' website and can be easily found by

CLICKING ON THE LINK BELOW

http://pickie-bryan21.blogspot.com/

This link should provide up to date news and information

Once you are transfered to this new site (in operation since May 2010) it will open on the main news and events page
At the top of the page you can access individual teams to obtain specific up to date news, results and information

Don't forget to VISIT THE PHOTO GALLERY

Please browse and enjoy
Thank you - Bryan Lynn

Juniors IBA Cup news and Match reports

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DOWN MEMORY LANE

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A selection of interesting notes from the Minute Book over the first 40 years at Pickie BC which was written by Ronnie Harper in the 50th Anniversary booklet published in 1993
1943 – Letter from Bangor Borough Council turning down application for site at Bryansburn Road

1945 – Special meeting called re new site at Bloomfield Road. 26 out of 79 were present. (later discovered site was not suitable after all arrangements were in place) Third AGM called, membership now 70

1947 – May 5th Arrangements made to purchase Broadway site.
Purchase of Vauxhall 10 car for club ballot (£422-8s- 10d - - £422.43p) Club resigned from NIBA (10-10-1947) Turf for new site purchased at one shilling per square yard. 16 members resigned to join Castle

1948 – Nissen Hut purchased for Broadway site July 10th. New green opened at Broadway.
Special meeting called re Limited Company. Members voted 17-3 against
Purchase of roller from Cavehill BC. - £12 Purchase of full size snooker table - £35

1949 – Relaying of green

1951 – Putting green presented by Mr. B. Campbell. Agreed to support a proposal re one shilling (5p) levy per member to cover expenses of international matches

1953 – Members voted 15-7 in favour of selling billiards table. £15 collected in three years.
Played Springourg touring team from Glasgow

1954 – Mr. John McClelland provided Club with President’s Board. William Rosbotham selected on the British Touring Team for Canada. Billards table sold to Royal Naval Association for £30

1955 – Indoor match played against Willowfield BC. At Gibson Park Treasurer informed committee that the club was now clear of debt and had a credit of £150. Fred Rollins proposed as vice-president of PGL Special meeting called to consider new clubhouse. Estimated price £900 Second estimation £1400 Clubhouse plans postponed

1956 – New clubhouse plans re-opened – estimation now £2444. Clubhouse plans shelved again . Fred Rollins elected PGL President

1957 – Proposal made that repairs should be started on old clubhouse. Putting green finished and hard filling put in for car park Dues raised from £4-4-0 to £5-5-0 (£5-25p)

1958 – Simon Logan IBA President

1959 – Veterans given permission for friendly matches – Monday, Thursday or Friday

1960 – Estimates for new clubhouse £2500 is agreed

1961 – New clubhouse to be opened on September 9th. Club agreed to start an Indoor section

1966 – H.McCullough and J. Holland won PGL Pairs. Beaten in final of IBA pairs Ladies rink won Milk Marketing Board tournament

1967 – Addition to club premises – secretary’s room. Stewart Melville reached the final of the Leinster Pairs

1968 – John Irwin took over as club treasurer. Club celbrated25th Anniversary

1969 – J. Nicholson proposed notice of motion that Pickie apply for drinks licence, seconded by S. Melville. Motion defeated 46-29

1970 – IBA ask club to consider holding Home International Series. Turned down by management committee

1979 – Midweek team entered in league

1982 – Club hosted Champion of Champions tournament featuring overseas bowlers

1983 – Jim Thompson elected PGL President

HISTORY of PICKIE B.C. 1943 - 1993

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The following extracts have been taken from Pickie Bowling Club’s 50th Anniversary Booklet published in 1993. Our thanks to Ronnie Harper (esteemed member of Pickie Bowling Club and Sports writer) who researched numerous minutes from various record books

It was on the 7th August 1943 that a meeting was called to form a new bowling club in Bangor. Eight people rallied to the inaugural get to gether in Thompson’s Tea Room in Bangor following a small advert in the Bangor Spectator.

Those eight pioneers were Fred Rollins, Samuel Johnston, David Mair, James George, William Simpson, Hugh Caruth, R.J. Holdsworth and Jack Douglas – sadly all have passed away.
On that momentous evening Rollins was appointed Secretary and held that position for many years and the first annual meeting of the new club was held in the Curzon Café in Queens Parade and the subscription was set at ten shillings (50pence)
At that meeting letters were read out from the Northern Ireland Bowling association and the Irish Bowling Association confirming their affiliation to both governing bodies
You may think how Pickie got it’s name? It was, naturally, at the first meeting of the club that the name was chosen. But not before long discussion in which some possible names as Ballyholme BC. and St Comgall’s BC. being discussed before finally agreeing to Pickie (an area at the seafront at Bangor) Even to this day visiting teams to our club are usually away round that area looking for Pickie BC.

WARD PARK - On the 30th of September 1943 application was made to the Bangor Borough Council to play their matches at Ward Park.
The first President of the Club was William Simpson and Jack Douglas being appointed as vice president. Fred Rollins was appointed secretary and treasurer was a Mr. S. Johnston.
Pickie quickly decided to enter the Masonic Cup, a decision taken at a Committee meeting on February 26th 1944 two months before the first flag unfurling ceremony held in Ward Park on Saturday April 29th
There were 26 members present at the second AGM held in the Curzon Café and it was reported that the club had played 14 league matches, winning five and losing nine. They also lost to Whitehead in the IBA Cup and were beaten by Alexandra in the Masonic Cup in which in recent years Pickie have won it three times and are a force to be reckoned with.

In search of OWN GREEN

An extraordinary general meeting was called on Saturday October 13th 1945 to consider the big step of laying their own green.
The committee set up to look into this mammoth undertaking was – John Huggins, William Telford, David Morrison, Jack Harvey, Hugh Caruth, J Cummings and Jack Davidson.
It was interesting to note at the extraordinary meeting only 22 members out of 64 turned up.
A lot of work wasin front of them as they sought a piece of land to lay a green.
It was hoped they could amalgamate with Downshire Tennis Club, but that fell through and things did not look too good at all. Then a light came at the end of the tunnel when they found a piece of land off Bryansburn Road. However their elevation was short lived when they were informed that the land had been given as a gift to Bangor Council and could not be used as a private club.

They persisted in their search for a home of their own and found what they were looking for, just off the Bloomfield Road. Here was an ideal spot to lay a green and build a clubhouse.
The ground was the property of a local farmer who was delighted with the idea. As quickly as possible a contract was signed up with the Morgan Engineering Company, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. The ceremony of cutting the first sod was arranged and it was performed by Sir William Baird of the Belfast Telegraph and President and father figure of the Irish Bowling association.
Invitations were sent to the Mayor of Bangor, councillors; IBA and PGL VIPs to attend this historic occasion. HOWEVER the club was dealt a massive body blow a week before cutting the first sod
Just after the committee meeting finalising al the ‘big day’ details ut was heard that during that day it had been discovered that there was nothing but rock only twelve inches below the surface of the site …. Laying a green there was completely out of the question
It indeed was a blow below the belt for the dreams of the Pickie men. They had forked out a sum in the region of £200 on the venture and it was all for nothing!

BUT they buckled down and organised some fund raising schemes in their bid to fulfil a dream. These included a ballot for a suite of furniture and tickets for the FA Cup Final as they began their search.
The members toiled tirelessly in those days, lead by John Huggins, Joseph Compton, Gilbert McClure, William Telford, George Compton, Councillor David Morrison and many others

Home to Broadway
The members toiled tirelessly in those days, lead by John Huggins, Joseph Compton, Gilbert McClure, William Telford, George Compton, Councillor David Morrison and many others

Their quest for the equivalent Golden Fleece finally ended in 1947 when a plot of ground was purchased at Broadway just opposite the second fairway of Bangor Golf Club

The piece of ground tucked in the corner of Ward Park was leased for two thousand years and then had a rental of £44 per annum. Pickie bowlers were now on their way.
Mr John Mc Farland, President of the Club, laid the first sod on july 10th 1948 and the last sod was laid by Miss Maureen Rolands, youngest daughter of the secretary.

Between those two occasions 1,200 square yards of Dundrum Bay turf was lovingly laid carted by volunteers on weekends and brought to Bangor on the back of a lorry. Naturally the club lost a few of their members who decided to rejoin their old club mates in the nearby Park, but new members came to take their place. The laying of the green cost a lot of money and the treasurer announced that the financial side of the club was far from healthy. But many members donated £50 thus becoming life members and the club was solvent again.
ANOTHER HURDLE – In 1949 with the club membership standing at 58 a Ladies Section was formed but at the annual general meeting Pickie ran up against yet another hurdle.
It was reported that the green was not running up to standard and an expert was brought from Glasgow to give his opinion. Their fears became a reality when he announced that the green would have to be re-laid. About £100 was raised for this and Pickie breathed again after a lot of dedication and hard work. That was in 1950 and since then the green has given little or no trouble and today (1993) is rated to be one of the best bowling surfaces in the British Isles
The men who looked after the green in tne early days right up to Bob Gibson, who was succeeded by John Mooney some years ago. Mooney or ‘Mr Greenfingers’ as he is known in the bowling world is the man responsible for having the green running as it is today (1993)
Head green keeper of Bangor Golf Club, John had tirelessly worked on his ‘baby’ over the years and has produced a bowling surface which was the envy of many

The Pickie members have seen great changes in their clubhouse over the years. It has been transformed from a Nissen Hut at present (1993) has just completed another major extension.
Billy Sefton, a club member and secretary in the early days, ws an estate agent in Belfast and he helped tremendously during the days when the club decided to put up a brick building. When his workmen had time on their hands they were sent down to Pickie and along with a good band of members got the new clubhouse underway

All members have to thank those men (who have long gone) for their enthusiasm, dedication and a tremendous vision.

Enquiries for the use of rooms

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Details for using the Main Hall, Mooney Room or Committee Room can be obtained by contacting:
028 91460897 Monday - Saturday
Leave your contact details etc and you shall be contacted

Main Function Hall and The Mooney Room

The Bar Area

All Bookings are subject to the approval of the Management Committee.

Licensing Restrictions mean under 18's must leave the premises before 9 pm.

Disclaimer

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