By David Taylor

Last updated at 13:16, Thursday, 28 January 2010

It is always a sad event when I report on the death of bowlers within Cumbria but this week’s news of the death of Edenside Bowls Club is probably an even more poignant occasion.

Over the years the club was a breeding ground some fine players and administrators producing champions on the green and champions off as well.

Fred Taylor became President of the EBA while Charlie Graham served for 25 years as County Secretary, Margaret Heggie was arguably the best lady bowler Cumbria has produced and of course in the Club itself today Mike Watson Club Treasurer for 43 years is one of the counties most respected bowlers.

The Club was formed way back in 1898 and was one of the leading Clubs in Cumbria for many, many years and early in its life James Emmerson brought honour to the Club and Cumberland as it was, when he won the national Singles in 1907, an achievement repeated by Charlie Graham in 1963.

The land on which the club stood had of course always been threatened by the River Eden, a 1901 map showed the land as being liable to flooding and major flooding occurred as far back as 1925, again in 1964 and once more in 2005.

On all of these occasions the club was strong enough to recover and the members were equal to the task but the latest deluge was just too much and, whilst some members may feel that not enough was done to save the club, I believe that in view of the current situation it would be extremely difficult to continue on the same site with the present membership.

Possibly the club might have found new premises on another green but this I understand was not a preferred option which is a shame because green sharing would not only have saved the name of Edenside but would probably have safe-guarded a host club as well.

Whatever the rights and wrongs of the process which has brought about the final decision there is no doubt that the loss of Edenside is a great loss, over 100 years of history has disappeared forever.

One can only hope that this will be an isolated incident but as I mentioned in my notes recently few people realise just how much effort it takes to keep clubs in existence and I fear that this may not be the last unless a new wave of bowlers can be introduced to the game.

First published at 12:25, Thursday, 28 January 2010
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk