1.THE ORIGINS OF EASTWOOD (POLLOK)
It is said that the origins of the present day Pollok Curling Club were as a result of a game of curling in 1879 between two sides of Pollokshaws Curling Club, the losers having to provide a “boll” of meal for the poor of Pollokshaws District. The winners had to place the order and charge up the meal to the losers. The losers said that that if they had to pay, they had the right to place the order. The result of this was that the meal was ordered by both the winners and the losers and before the dispute could be settled it had to be taken to the Paisley Sheriff Court where the Sheriff decided in favour of the winners with the result that the cost of the Court expenses exceeded the meal cost for both parties.
This brought about a split in the Pollokshaws Curling Club. The winners stayed on at the old pond at Hart’s Muir, Giffnock, which, when completely drained became part of the first fairway of the original Eastwood Golf Club. The losers started a club on a pond situated near Smith’s Farm off Cowglen Road, which is now part of the 1st hole fairway of Cowglen Golf Club.
Formation: At a meeting of gentlemen held on 25th November 1879 it was agreed to form themselves into a new Curling Club. The following gentlemen were present:-
This brought about a split in the Pollokshaws Curling Club. The winners stayed on at the old pond at Hart’s Muir, Giffnock, which, when completely drained became part of the first fairway of the original Eastwood Golf Club. The losers started a club on a pond situated near Smith’s Farm off Cowglen Road, which is now part of the 1st hole fairway of Cowglen Golf Club.
Formation: At a meeting of gentlemen held on 25th November 1879 it was agreed to form themselves into a new Curling Club. The following gentlemen were present:-
John Urie
James Cullen Andrew Ferguson Wm McGregor Adam Peter Sharpe George Smith Robert Smith John Dalglish |
Thomas Bell
Thomas Galbraith John McQueen Robert Scobie James Whitehead John Russell Thomas Duncan John Baird |
John Robertson
John Kirkwood Henry Burton David Gibson James Dunlop Samuel Connolly Dr Howat |
It was proposed and seconded that the Club be named the Eastwood Curling Club.
At a subsequent meeting of the Club held on 3rd December 1879 Mr John Urie was appointed Chairman of the Club, Mr Robert Smith the Treasurer and Peter Sharpe the Secretary.
At this meeting a decision was taken to obtain a site suitable for a curling pond. Two sites were considered – one on ground belonging to a Mr Deans of Dovehill and the other on ground belonging to a Mr Smith of Bangers Hill, Cowglen.
Also at this meeting it was agreed that the annual subscription be fixed at Five Shillings and that a subscription sheet be laid on the table for any of the members who were willing to contribute a voluntary subscription toward the Club fund.
It was also agreed that a sufficient number of boards be at once procured.
At the next meeting of the Club, held on 23rd December 1879 it was reported that Mr Deans of Dovehill wanted a rent of £30 per annum for his ground compared to £7 per annum requested by Mr Smith for his ground at Bangers Hill. The meeting obviously decided to accept the offer from Mr Smith and two members of the Committee were instructed to obtain a letter of lease for the ground and arrange payment of the rent.
It was also reported that 8 boards had been secured.
At this meeting Mr John Kirkwood read out the rules of the Lilybank Curling Club* following which a Committee was formed to make out the Rules for the proper management of the Club. Messrs Cullen and Whitehead were appointed to have the pond kept in order and it was agreed to procure a box for holding the Curling Stones.
At a further meeting held on 18th March 1880 Mr Whitehead proposed that the water be run off the pond as soon as possible.
Nothing of significance appears to have happened over the next two or three years as no minutes seem to have been prepared during that period.
(* Lilybank Curling Club was formed in 1865 and curled on curling ponds formed on the lands of Shawmoss Farm, opposite the present day Crossmyloof Gardens housing estate on the east side of Springkell Avenue.)
The Members Annual Subscription was increased to Ten Shillings to be paid by 1st December each year.
At a Meeting held on 27th October 1887 it was delegated to the President Mr Dalglish to get the Pond properly dammed up and Mr Hamilton to place the stove in a proper place in the Curling House.
The Club remained known as the Eastwood Curling Club until 1895 when a Special General Meeting was held on 2nd May 1895 in the Masonic Arms.
“The Chairman said and as it was the opinion of almost all the members that the present name had something to do with the unpopularity of the club,… proposed that the Club be called the Pollok Curling Club as the portion of the Parish with which it was connected was really Pollok.
Motion carried by 7 votes to 3.
At a subsequent meeting of the Club held on 3rd December 1879 Mr John Urie was appointed Chairman of the Club, Mr Robert Smith the Treasurer and Peter Sharpe the Secretary.
At this meeting a decision was taken to obtain a site suitable for a curling pond. Two sites were considered – one on ground belonging to a Mr Deans of Dovehill and the other on ground belonging to a Mr Smith of Bangers Hill, Cowglen.
Also at this meeting it was agreed that the annual subscription be fixed at Five Shillings and that a subscription sheet be laid on the table for any of the members who were willing to contribute a voluntary subscription toward the Club fund.
It was also agreed that a sufficient number of boards be at once procured.
At the next meeting of the Club, held on 23rd December 1879 it was reported that Mr Deans of Dovehill wanted a rent of £30 per annum for his ground compared to £7 per annum requested by Mr Smith for his ground at Bangers Hill. The meeting obviously decided to accept the offer from Mr Smith and two members of the Committee were instructed to obtain a letter of lease for the ground and arrange payment of the rent.
It was also reported that 8 boards had been secured.
At this meeting Mr John Kirkwood read out the rules of the Lilybank Curling Club* following which a Committee was formed to make out the Rules for the proper management of the Club. Messrs Cullen and Whitehead were appointed to have the pond kept in order and it was agreed to procure a box for holding the Curling Stones.
At a further meeting held on 18th March 1880 Mr Whitehead proposed that the water be run off the pond as soon as possible.
Nothing of significance appears to have happened over the next two or three years as no minutes seem to have been prepared during that period.
(* Lilybank Curling Club was formed in 1865 and curled on curling ponds formed on the lands of Shawmoss Farm, opposite the present day Crossmyloof Gardens housing estate on the east side of Springkell Avenue.)
The Members Annual Subscription was increased to Ten Shillings to be paid by 1st December each year.
At a Meeting held on 27th October 1887 it was delegated to the President Mr Dalglish to get the Pond properly dammed up and Mr Hamilton to place the stove in a proper place in the Curling House.
The Club remained known as the Eastwood Curling Club until 1895 when a Special General Meeting was held on 2nd May 1895 in the Masonic Arms.
“The Chairman said and as it was the opinion of almost all the members that the present name had something to do with the unpopularity of the club,… proposed that the Club be called the Pollok Curling Club as the portion of the Parish with which it was connected was really Pollok.
Motion carried by 7 votes to 3.