THIS year the Glasgow and District Churches' Badminton Association comes of age and, to mark the birthday, this little booklet has been prepared.

During recent weeks I have had access to papers and documents relative to the early days of the Association. I have read and examined them so often that now I am on such terms of intimacy with the visionaries who gathered together to found the Association - or League, as it then was called - that I can almost hear them strike the match to light the torch which has flamed brightly for 21 years. I can nearly catch the sound of their voices as they talk at that inaugural meeting in the hall of St. Clair Church on Monday, 8th September, 1930. But should I eavesdrop? No matter how vivid the imagination it is extremely difficult to describe accurately for you the details attendant on the birth of the Association. Factual detail too, is not always inspiring. In any event it would be easy to adopt a fictional attitude to the material in my possession; and to contribute too much importance possibly to the element of intention - and to ignore the little things and the fact that most human actions are purposeless and influenced by fortuitous and momentary factors too trivial to record.

“In the beginning ….."

Twenty one years is an uncommonly long time to look ahead, though, in the corridors of time, it passes at the twinkling of an eye, and it is doubtful whether these good folks who " in the beginning " had the vision to sponsor the organisation gave any thought to that aspect of the matter. Life is one thing, or ought to be; and between Youth and Age lies no great gap. But if they thought of the matter at all maybe they echoed Browning when he boasted :

Grow old along with me

The best is yet to be …..

There is nothing legendary about these early days for three members who attended that first meeting, Messrs. A. W. Swan, J. D. Dobbie, and D. M. Pattison, still carry on the work, as was their aim 21 years ago, of fostering and encouraging the game of Badminton among Christian agencies.

The Glorious Infant

Mr. Swan, St. Clair, who had convened the meeting, occupied the chair; and it was on the motion of Mr. J. D. Dobbie, Maryhill Old Parish, seconded by Mr. J. N. Deas, St. Clair.' that the Glasgow and District Churches Badminton League was formed. Alexandra Parade, Cambridge Street and The New Church of Jerusalem were the other clubs represented at the meeting. Following the appearance of a paragraph in the " Evening Times " a series of further meetings were held. Interest - that sunny corner of the mind where ideas ripen into action - was developing; a constitution and rules were drafted; and Office-Bearers elected.

The first office-bearers were :-

President. J. TELFER SINCLAIR, Alexandra Parade.

Vice-President. J. M. BLYTH, St. Enoch's-Hogganfield.

Secretary. A. W. SWAN, St. Clair.

Treasurer. W. J. SIMPSON, Alexandra Parade.

Minute Secretary. A. BAIN, St. Clair.

Auditors. J. M. BLYTH, St. Enoch's-Hogganfield,

and J. N. DEAS, St. Clair.

Eight clubs took part in the league competitions that first season. St. Columba's Episcopal emerged winners with a very impressive record.

Each club played seven home and seven away fixtures and St. Columba’s Episcopal and St Clair were undefeated at home. The league table at the end of the season read as follows:-

P W. L. D. F. A. Pts.

St. Columba's Ep 14 13 1 0 164 60 26

Alexandra Parade 14 11 2 1 169 55 23

St. Clair. 14 10 3 1 154 70 21

Henderson Memorial 14 7 7 0 92 132 14

St. Enoch-Hogganfield 14 5 9 0 98 126 10

Maryhill Old Parish 14 5 9 0 96 128 10

St. Clair Y.P.S. 14 3 11 0 80 144 6

St. Cuthbert's. 14 1 13 0 43 181 2

At an early meeting of the league the form of play to be observed in league matches was decided - after a lengthy discussion - to be as in an American Tournament. each team consisting of four mixed doubles couples. The decision of the executive was influenced by the fact that this style of play permitted more players to take part; and less time was involved than in rubber play. The decision was a good one and has never been altered - a splendid testimony to the foresight of the early legislators.

The first Championship……………

The 1930 - 1931 Championship, the first staged by the League, was held in the Church Hall of St. Enoch's - Hogganfield. It was a fitting climax to the inaugural season and provided play of a very high standard. The pattern of league match play was followed in that the entry of 15 couples was balloted into three sections each of five couples; each couple playing one game with each of the opposing couples; the one with the highest aggregate going forward to the final where a similar procedure was followed.

Entries were received from Alexandra Parade, 4 couples Henderson Memorial, 1 couple ; Maryhill Old Parish, 2. couples ; St. Clair, 4 couples ; and St. Enoch's Hogganfield, 4 couples.

The Section winners were R. McKay and Mrs. Simpson, St. Enoch's Hogganfield, A. W. Swan and Miss M. Shearer, St. Clair, J. Napier and Miss M. Blackwood, St. Clair. In the final A. W. Swan and Miss M. Shearer, because of higher aggregate, became the first Champions.

So ended the first year! From modest beginnings, as sketched above, the League prospered beyond all expectations. Seldom can acorn, hopefully planted, have produced so notable an oak.

The years between.

From an initial membership of 108 registered players representative of 8 clubs the numbers, both players and clubs, increased steadily. In the current season, 1950-51, there are over 2,000 members and the number of affiliated clubs is 126. What happened in the years between ? The early struggles, trials and tribulations ; the teething troubles of a lusty infant ; and the uncertainties of adolescence : these affairs contribute to and compose the domestic history of the Association. A recital, here and there, of the highlights is worthwhile, for there are many purple patches through the years.

Noteworthy events of the pre-war period.

Season 1931 - 32 saw the establishment of a second division and the provision of silver cups for the League Competitions. The following year the registered players numbered 351 and the clubs taking part had mounted to 21. A third division was formed that season (1932-33). Enthusiasm was keen, wings were beginning to be spread and the League continued to prosper. Because of congestion in fixtures it became necessary to abandon the principle of home and away matches in favour of either home or away.

By 1934-35 the entries for the annual tournament reached almost 250. That year there commenced a record defence of the Gents' Doubles title. R. B. Topping and H. McIntosh of Wellfield won the event and were successful in defending it in the four succeeding years-five years in all! And both players are still very much to the fore. Last season Bert Topping played in his 28th representative game for the Association ; season 1947-48 saw Harry McIntosh gain the Gents' Singles title.

Taken from the galaxy of stars are these distinguished names - Miss B. Bryson, Queen's Park High, Miss E. Boa, Martyr's Parish, Mrs. M. L. Elder, Martyr's Parish and Alexandra Parade, Miss C. Graham, St. David's Ledgate, Mrs. E. P. Hamilton, Duntocher East, Miss N. Hill, St. Paul's North, Miss N. M. Howieson, Newton Mearns, Miss R. Lyon, Wellfield, Mrs. E. Penny, Queen's Park High, Miss C. Reid, Martyr's Parish, Miss C. Stalker, Rockvilla, Miss K. Strong, London Road, Miss A. Will, St. Clair Y.P. S., Mrs. J. Bell (nee J. R. White), Duntocher West and Duntocher East and Miss B. Whitehouse, St. Clair Y.P.S., Messrs. D. Baird, Queen's Park High, A. W. Blyth, Wellfield and Airdrie West, J. D. Dobbie, Maryhill Old Parish, R. Dunsmore, London Road and Anniesland Cross, C. R. Lyall, Martyr's Parish, E. B. McTavish, Eastern Y.M.C.A., Jack and James Proctor, St. David’s Ledgate-the former paid the supreme sacrifice in World War II - T. W. Summerhill, Duntocher and Drumchapel, J. F.' Macrae, Duntocher West and W. K. Wilson, St. Columba's Episcopal, also the sextette of pre-war and post-war stars who between them have been honoured by the Association on no less than I 15 occasions - Mrs. M. McIntosh nee M. May, Maryhill Old Parish and Milngavie B.B., Messrs. R. B. Topping, Wellfield and St. Thomas' Methodist, J. Wilson, Alexandra Parade and Martyr's Parish, R. H. Simson, St. Clair Y.P.S., and Milngavie, B.B., H. McIntosh, Wellfield and Drumchapel, Alister Ferguson St. Clair Y.P.S. and Milngavie.

In season 1934-35 Miss C. Reid won the Ladies Singles and defended it successfully in the following two seasons. Miss Reid was one of the " brightest stars " of her day. She was the first triple title holder in the Association, a distinction she gained in Season 1936-37. In the last pre-war season, 1938-39, Miss A. Will, St. Clair, became the second triple title holder in Churches' Badminton. During this period," too, there existed another brilliant partnership, that of Miss C. Reid and Miss E. Boa, Martyr's Parish, who were successful in the Ladies Doubles from 1933-34 until 1936-37.

In the very early days games were of our own arranging- and many were epics. Some of the names-and there are legions unmentioned - mean not a great deal for a few of the events chronicled here took place nearly twenty years ago! Then Milngavie was very much in the country; Edinburgh was a long way off; and it was a lovely green belt where the Royal Ordnance Factory now stands in Bishopton. When the lights throughout Europe went out one by one disruption of the Associations activities was inevitable; friendships were on test ; rivalries were forgotten. Now we are picking the threads up.

The post-war period.

In 1947-48 we started again - but not just where we left off in 1939. That first post-war season produced new champions-new names. Miss J. MacGregor, Milngavie, became the third triple title holder and joined the select. Later Miss MacGregor was to play for Scotland and so become another Churches' Internationalist, W. McL. Williams, Newton Mearns has been similarly honoured.

Other new names in the honours list in the first post-war season were J. Stevenson, Auldfield, and clubmate J. Bruce who won the Gents' Doubles and successfully defended their title the following year. Among the stars who have been revealed since the Association re-started activities are:- Mrs. M. Beveridge, Stonelaw, Mrs. N. Bissett, Auldfield, Mrs. L. Cullen, Airdrie West, Miss M. Forrester, Stevenson Memorial, Miss S. Henderson, Airdrie West, Miss S. Litton, Stonelaw, Miss N. Taylor, Martyr's Parish, Miss I. Vallance, Messrs. R. Dey, Stonelaw, R. G. Geddes, Stonelaw, D. Ross, Rutherglen Congregational and Auldfield, W. Williams, Newton Mearns and J. Stevenson, Auldfield; nor must we omit the promising young players who undoubtedly will be the stars of tomorrow, Miss C. Clark and Miss M. Button both of Auchinloch S.S.T., the sisters Wilson Elinor and Norma of Stevenson Memorial, Messrs. W. Clark, Auchinloch, J. L. Bain, Cadder Parish, R. Fraser, Bluevale Parish, Ian Patrick, St. David's Ledgate and J. A. Ross, Alexandra Parade Methodist, who, we feel sure, will bring credit to themselves and further prestige to the Association.

Competition has become very keen and with the growth of the organisation the road to the finals gets longer each season. It is a far cry from 1930-31 with 15 couples to 1951 and its entry of over 654. If the development of the Association in pre-war days was regarded as rapid then that 'which has taken place since 1947 may be considered phenomenal. Everything now appears, in comparison, to be on the grand scale with a background of "glorious technicolour". The Handbook almost assumes the pro- portions of a telephone directory and the individual championships require ten evenings for play.

The Swan Trophy.

The Swan Trophy Tournament since its inception has provided some of the keenest and best displays of the game by members of the Association. The Tournament started off in 1934-35 as the "Knock-out Competition". This uninspiring title was dropped in March Of 1935, when it was unanimously agreed that the competition be re-designated the " Swan " Trophy Tournament in recognition and appreciation of the work of the worthy General Secretary.

In the first season in which the Tournament was held (1934-35) the rules stated that ten players must take part and the tie to consist of six rubbers-two mixed doubles, ladies' and gents' doubles and ladies' and gents' singles. This arrangement was changed in the following year; another mixed doubles was added and the players increased to number twelve. In 1938 the rule stipulating the number of players to take part was altered to the present " minimum of eight players.”

Winners of the Swan Trophy have been:-

1934-35 Duntocher West beat Alexandra Parade by 3 rubbers 7 games to 3 rubbers 6 games.

193 –36 Martyr's Parish beat Duntocher West by 4 rubbers 9 games to 3 rubbers 6 games.

1936-37 St. David's Ledgate beat St. Clair by 5 rubbers 10 games to 2 rubbers 6 games.

1937-38 St. Mary's Parish beat Alexandra Parade by 4 rubbers 10 games to 3 rubbers 6 games.

1938-39 St. Clair Y.P.S. beat St. David's Ledgate by 5 rubbers to 2 rubbers.

1947-48 1st Milngavie B.B. beat St. David's Ledgate by 4 rubbers 8 games to 1 rubber 2 games.

1948-49 1st Milngavie B.B. beat Wellfield by 4 rubbers 10 games to 3 rubbers 8 games.

1949-50 Stonelaw S.C. beat 1st Milngavie B.B. by 6 rubbers 13 games to 1 rubber 6 games.

1950-51 Auldfield beat 1st Milngavie B.B. by 4 rubbers 10 games to 3 rubbers 7 games.

Various charitable and needy causes have benefited by the donations in respect of the Swan Trophy collections, and in this connection a total of over £133 had been distributed by the Association.

After many vigorous pleas by Mr. R. M. Maxwell (Alexandra Parade Methodist), a tournament for the Reserve Sections on the lines of the Swan Trophy was commenced in 1936 and has since functioned with equal success.

Winners of the Reserve Swan Trophy have been:-

1936-37 Rockvilla

1937-38 St. Clair Y.P.S.

1938-39 Wellfield

1947-48 Queen's Park High

1948-49 Duntocher East

1949-50 1st Milngavie B.B. Staff and Ex-members

1950-51 1st.Milngavie B.B. Staff and Ex-members

Inter-City and other representative games.

Season 1931-32 saw Glasgow Churches' Badminton in competition with outside interests for the first time. This game, the first representative match to be played by the Association, was against the Milngavie Badminton League who were beaten by 8 rubbers to nil.

An inter-city Churches' Badminton Match against Edinburgh was staged for the first time in season 1932-33. Edinburgh defeated by 20 rubbers to 7 the less experienced Glasgow team and several years passed before we registered a win in this annual fixture.

There is no doubt that the inter-league matches between Glasgow and other Churches' Badminton Associations have been responsible for the raising of the standards of play. And these contacts have succeeded in taking Churches' Badminton out of the backwater of parochial competition; and materially fostered the sport in different parts of the country.

In 1937 Glasgow turned the tables on Edinburgh by inflicting a record defeat. After this achievement representative games were approached with confidence.

The Glasgow Churches have played matches against the following :-

Milngavie, Edinburgh, Greenock, Falkirk, Langside and District, Irvine Valley, Paisley, Dundee, Bute, and Mount Vernon.

In post-war Badminton Edinburgh have not, as yet, resumed activities but the rivalry between Glasgow and Greenock has intensified and the games of the last two seasons have been drawn.

The records in representative Badminton are indeed impressive and the combined scores to date are

Glasgow Churches

Rubbers Rubbers Games Games

Played Won Lost Drawn for against for against

36 26 8 2 406 187 893 479

Outstanding “representative" records have been set up in these matches by a number of players. R. B. Topping, as already mentioned, has made 28 appearances for Glasgow Churches while J. Wilson (Alexandra Parade and Martyr's Parish), Mrs. M. McIntosh (Maryhill Old Parish and Milngavie B.B.) and R. H. Simpson (St. Clair Y.P. S. and Milngavie B.B.) have 24, 18 and 16 honours respectively. To these players and all the others who took part in representative matches we owe a debt of gratitude for their unfailing support and for upholding the dignity and principles of the Association of which we are so justly proud. The place that this Association holds in Badminton circles in Scotland is due in no small measure to them.

“Badminton Monthly “

" Badminton Monthly " made its appearance in December, 1935, and continued to be published at regular intervals until 1939. This is a reproduction of the front cover of the last issue, that dated Spring, 1939, The only magazine of its kind at the time Mr. D. L. Campbell, was the first editor of the attractive and readable journal. Right from the start the venture was a success; by means of the magazine members were kept abreast of affairs.

Many excellent articles on Badminton and kindred interests appeared in its pages and it is a matter of great regret that it has not been possible, because of restrictions, to resume production. The existing “News Sheet,” excellent though it is in many respects, can only be regarded as a makeshift arrangement.

Social and other items of interest.

The social side of our affairs has always been in good hands and in addition to Dances, other social activities in pre-war years took the form of "pantomime” evenings; a circular rail-cruise to St. Fillans in Perthshire and in 1938 a successful trip " doon the watter " was organised-tickets, by the way, cost 2/6 each and the steamer was the " Queen Mary II"

Space is devoted elsewhere to reference to the annual Church Service, in integral and important feature of the Organisation.

In the early years of the Association so burdened were our affairs at times it was necessary to appeal for subscriptions towards the cost of the silver cups awarded to the winners of the various divisions. But a miracle has occurred, for the present day financial structure of the Association is such that most exigencies are amply provided for.

Many changes have taken place since 1930, but amalgamation of Congregations has probably - brought about the greatest major change. A few clubs have been disbanded including St. Clair Y.P.S. who were at the top when World War II came upon us. It is a happy thought that most of the players affected have joined with other churches and happily settled with them. Two of the churches in membership of the Association were destroyed by enemy action - Union Church and Duntocher Trinity - and we record with pleasure that Duntocher Trinity is once again a flourishing congregation with at present over 6oo members.

A change of title.

By 1938 the expansion was such that the organisation tended to become unwieldy.

Up to this time the Executive Committee was composed of the office-bearers and two representatives from each club in the League. To facilitate and expedite the administration of the Association the Annual General Meeting in May, 1938, delegated the management of its business to a General Council and an Executive Council. The Executive Committee, consisting principally of the office-bearers, became responsible for the day to day conduct of Association affairs, and because of its number, mobility and experience, was better able to satisfactorily deal with urgent matters and at the same time attend to the interests of the Clubs and Members.

The title of the organisation was at this time altered by the substitution of Association for League.

The Scottish Badminton Union.

We are within the fold of the Scottish Badminton Union - but it was not always thus. Lets read a leaderette from “Badminton Monthly."

REASONED JUDGMENT

Criticism, to the man in the street, gives the impression of fault finding, For our part, criticism - in the sense of reasoned judgment - should be instructive and helpful to the person criticised else there is little purpose or meaning in it. We are all given to criticism. In many cases we may not see the " beam " in our own eye because of our anxiety to point out the " mote " in that of the other fellow.

In a contemporary the other day, criticism was levelled at our Association arising out of the defeat of our representatives in the recent inter-city match with Edinburgh. The writer contended that the standard of play within our ranks is not as good as it might be " because there was no competition outside of our own circle ". Considering the fact that we have beaten the Edinburgh select, who by the way are members of the Scottish Badminton Union, both home and away during the past two seasons, the remarks of our critic are somewhat unjust. Further, many members of our own body are also in membership of the S.B.U., and if that organisation is extremely anxious to tap the resources of the Churches' Association, the initiative should be taken by them in the way of a measure of elasticity in their rules to permit of the Association entering teams in their competition; the Association being treated as one club.

Tempered by a reasonableness of attitude and considered opinion, criticism will command respect and attention. We shall see.

That was published in January 1939. But we will go back to the beginning of the story. At the Executive meeting On 14th April, 1933, - by this time the organisation had grown in strength to the extent of 21 clubs - the secretary read a letter from Mr. G. H. Steven, secretary of the Scottish Badminton Union, inviting the affiliation of the Churches' Association.

After lengthy delays a meeting was held with Mr. Jackson Millar and Mr. E. D. Ballantyne, and on 10th Nov., 1933, a report was presented when the proposals of the S.B.U. were ready. The question of the League becoming affiliated as a body for one fee was out of the question, but they were prepared to introduce a graded system of affiliation fees - and each of our Clubs could become affiliated separately at the fee of 3/6. This was to cost the League in the region of £5 as the membership had increased to 28 Clubs. The matter caused a great deal of controversy for opinions were varied, and finally, on 8th December, only five Clubs were in favour of affiliation. It was agreed that the matter be dropped.

The post war years saw the question of affiliation debated each season but a solution seemed no nearer even after a very stormy discussion in 1948 between Mr. Harper of the S.B.U. and Mr. Swan, at Paisley. With the continued growth of the Association we were more determined than ever that our place was inside the Union and not outside.

It was a matter of mutual satisfaction to all interests when eventually a communication was received on 10th February, 1950, from Mr. F. G. Normand, the S.B.U. Secretary, stating that the secretary had no objection to the Association paying the fees of their Clubs and at our A. G. M. on 25th April, 1950, our Rules were altered to allow this to become an established fact. In season 1950-51 affiliation fees were paid for 126 Clubs.

We are now members of The Scottish Badminton Union and the welcome extended to us by the officials in the West of Scotland has indeed been generous, and although the lost child has been long in returning to its parent there can be no doubt we will continue as always to work and strive for better Badminton. We hope some of our young folks will one day wear Scotland's colours arid bring credit to the Churches' Association. We have probably the most loyal membership in the country and this loyalty is now being extended to the Scottish Badminton Union.

Everything is worth talking about ….

Nowadays Sir Walter Scott is not considered very fashionable. " We cannot ", he tells us, " exist without mutual aid ; all, therefore, who need aid have a right to ask it of their fellow-mortals, and no one who has the power of granting can refuse it without guilt ".

As an Association and as individuals we have had a lot of aid and assistance. Seldom have we had to seek it; never has it been refused. Over the years we have indeed been indebted to many, as for instance - St. Clair. St. Clair is a branch Church of Adelaide Place Baptist. All the early meetings of the Association were held in their Halls at St. Clair Street - in fact this position obtained until October, 1932, when the Central Hall, Bath Street, was used for the first time.

It was a grand gesture on the part of the Executive Committee and fortunate for the Association - when, at the monthly meeting of May, 1932, it was unanimously resolved that the Superintendent of St. Clair Halls, Mr. J. Alistair Martin, be approached to accept the office of Honorary President of the organisation. His kindness and help at our meetings and the ready grant of facilities was reflected in the steady progress of our affairs. It is no platitude to say he filled the office with great acceptance and his active guidance and experience which was on tap for so long Mr. J. Alistair Martin relinquished the Hon. Presidentship in 1947 - was a great influence in steering the business of the Association with so marked success.

The Maxwell Memorial Championship.

One of the most important attributes of Badminton is the happiness it gives those who subscribe to it. Often the degree of enjoyment derived from the game is in inverse proportion to the skill of the player.

The humble aspirant to Badminton honours has his place in the scheme of things in the Churches' Associations.

The Doctor R. M. Maxwell Memorial Inter-group Championship was introduced in 1949 to honour the memory of an office-bearer and member who had a conspicuous part in establishing the Association.

Absorbingly interested in everything, his world pulsated with life; and it is fitting that the tournament, one of the objects of which is to encourage, and provide younger players with an opportunity of play in the top rank of Churches' Badminton, should bear his name.

“Seven days without the option. . . “

Because Henderson Memorial and Bridgeton (West) were not represented at the Committee Meeting held on 13th November, 1931, it is recorded in the minutes " they will be fined in accordance with rule 28, this being 1/- for, the first offence and 2/- for any other meeting they fail to attend ".

Throughout the years the rules of the Association have been altered and amended. To-day the penalty for an offence against rule is 1/- for every occasion a club fails to be represented at a General Committee Meeting.

In a world of rising costs it is pertinent to enquire what prompted the reduction in fines ?

The Test of Time.

We hear from time to time of an organisation, a business, a body, celebrating, perhaps, its jubilee. There is usually a deal of fuss because it is imagined that in having reached a particular milestone along the road of time, that, this in itself, confers the right exclusively to receive the respect and applause of the general public. While fully appreciating that the survival of the test of time is an indication of quality, we, in the Association, cannot allow ourselves to rest content with this test alone. It is rightly commendable but we must not lose sight of the present, and of the future, by dwelling too much on the past. Nevertheless, it is indeed a heartening story' that is told within these pages of the birth and growth of this great organisation, the Glasgow and District, Churches' Badminton Association. One more bit must be added. Many people have contributed to the success of the Association, but, at the end, it is a memorial to one man's quiet: obstinate faith and works. A. Wishart Swan, General Secretary, since the inception concerned with the problem of the use of leisure on the part of the individual, felt that young folk should have an organisation, loosely yet firmly allied to the Church, in which some part of the leisure hours free from work could be made both pleasurable and spiritually profitable. After all welfare of the spirit is not something apart from the welfare of the body. That was the yard-stick, or if you wish, the measure. Sympathy for the ideal barely conquered doubts whether it could succeed. But the " hearth of thought " at which Plutarch tells us "you may always warm your hands" once kindled in the minds of kindred spirits could not fail. Long may the ideal-the touchstone of the Association-be cherished, and in a fast changing world defended against all-comers!