Waterside Miners Welfare & Social Club
Whether it was for darts, drinks, bands, bingo, pool, pub quizzes or putting on your own function, there used to be only one place to go: Waterside Miners Club.
But how much do we really know about this important institution on our doorstep? A place that saw the blossoming of so many friendships and romances, where people came together to watch football, discuss events, enjoy music, relax and party?
In a series of instalments, Edward Z. Smith dips into the archives and tells the story of Waterside Miners Club, how it came into existence, its important role in our community, and how it closed for business in March 2020.
But how much do we really know about this important institution on our doorstep? A place that saw the blossoming of so many friendships and romances, where people came together to watch football, discuss events, enjoy music, relax and party?
In a series of instalments, Edward Z. Smith dips into the archives and tells the story of Waterside Miners Club, how it came into existence, its important role in our community, and how it closed for business in March 2020.
Archives & Memories
1. Introduction
Most miners’ institutes and welfares were established throughout the UK coal-mining areas between the late 19th to mid-20th centuries. The miners’ welfares were funded by the coal miners through contributions deducted weekly from their wages, although some coal owners would give financial support.
The welfares were run by committees chosen by the miners, and they would pay a small fee for a yearly membership. Social activities in the Scottish mining communities were mainly based around these institutes or welfares, through which a wide choice of interests could be enjoyed: libraries, whist drives, billiards, angling, bowling, football, bingo – or 'housey-housey', as it was known then. Interclub activities such as darts matches and singing contests were also eagerly anticipated. Very popular too were the summer bus drives to the seaside for adults and children, and the Christmas ‘treats’ – once again for both young and old.
After nationalisation, the Miners’ Welfare Act of 1952 established the Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation (CISWO). Its main role was to care for the sick, elderly and injured in the coal industry. CISWO would also supervise the nationwide network of miners’ welfare institutes.
From the mid-1950s, many of the welfares obtained licences to sell alcohol, enabling yet more income to be generated, funding the construction of custom-designed social clubs with proper function suites, games rooms and bowling greens etc.
Towards the end of the 1960s, colliery closures accelerated, with the result that many welfares and social clubs were forced to shut down. Many of their sports grounds and play facilities were handed over to the local authorities on condition that they were maintained and their community use protected.
The Waterside Miners Welfare & Social Club has so far managed to survive all the changes and challenges encountered since those far-off days in the 1920s when our Miners’ Welfare Institute was established.
The welfares were run by committees chosen by the miners, and they would pay a small fee for a yearly membership. Social activities in the Scottish mining communities were mainly based around these institutes or welfares, through which a wide choice of interests could be enjoyed: libraries, whist drives, billiards, angling, bowling, football, bingo – or 'housey-housey', as it was known then. Interclub activities such as darts matches and singing contests were also eagerly anticipated. Very popular too were the summer bus drives to the seaside for adults and children, and the Christmas ‘treats’ – once again for both young and old.
After nationalisation, the Miners’ Welfare Act of 1952 established the Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation (CISWO). Its main role was to care for the sick, elderly and injured in the coal industry. CISWO would also supervise the nationwide network of miners’ welfare institutes.
From the mid-1950s, many of the welfares obtained licences to sell alcohol, enabling yet more income to be generated, funding the construction of custom-designed social clubs with proper function suites, games rooms and bowling greens etc.
Towards the end of the 1960s, colliery closures accelerated, with the result that many welfares and social clubs were forced to shut down. Many of their sports grounds and play facilities were handed over to the local authorities on condition that they were maintained and their community use protected.
The Waterside Miners Welfare & Social Club has so far managed to survive all the changes and challenges encountered since those far-off days in the 1920s when our Miners’ Welfare Institute was established.
2. 1961– Extracts Selected from Minutes of Committee Meetings
(Committee members included A. Buchanan, A. Gartshore, T. Cairney, W. Nicol, J. Brownisky, W. Wright, T. McLuckie, J.M. Leckie, J. Bowie.)
(Committee members included A. Buchanan, A. Gartshore, T. Cairney, W. Nicol, J. Brownisky, W. Wright, T. McLuckie, J.M. Leckie, J. Bowie.)
12 Jan.
Christmas treat for the children of the village; 180 in all went well. Each child received one bottle of lemonade, one bag with three cakes and, after the show, an orange, chocolate or sweets. Jim McAlpine from Cairnview was one of the entertainers, playing guitar, singing and doing a Bruce Forsyth ‘Beat the Clock’ impersonation. 9 Feb. A letter was received from Mr McPherson of Tennent’s Brewery requesting a meeting with the Committee to see if they could assist in any way regarding the proposed licensed club. 4 May Met with Mr Nimmo, Architect, to discuss the plans for the licensed club. 1 Jul. The drive to Ayr went well. There were five buses leaving Waterside at 11.00 am. Lunch was at Ayr Ice Rink. The cost was 5/6d a head, with a bottle of lemonade on the way down. On the way home a bottle of lemonade and a packet of crisps could be bought for 1/-. 13 Jul. The drive expenditure to Ayr was £52/0/10d for the five buses; lunches cost £40/19/6d and sundries £35/10/6d. The total cost was £98/10/10d. 7 Sept. Alex Gartshore, Chairman, resigned from the Committee with no reason given. 2 Nov. Committee agreed to give retired members the sum of £1 each; there were 22 members on the retired list. The Welfare Hall was broken into on 22 October and the culprit arrested by the police. It was agreed that all future break-ins be reported to the police. 7 Dec. An estimate of £25/10/- was received from Marshall the painters of Kirkintilloch to paint the hall entrance and stage. The Committee agreed to have the piano tuned by Mr Bolton of Waterside. Discussed the proposed licensed club and agreed that Mr A.W. Laing (the Miners’ Welfare officer) was to be instructed to obtain and submit the completed V32 application form. |
1961 – Yes, I remember then! Edward Z. Smith
For us kids back in the late 50s & early 60s, the Welfare Hall had it all: a youth club; billiards and snooker; Boys Brigade and Girl Guides; weekly film shows with cartoons; Abbot & Costello films; and old black & white serials lasting 15 minutes featuring Flash Gordon, Dick Barton Special Agent or Jungle Jim (who?!). The serials always ended with an exciting cliffhanger to make sure we came back the next week. We even held record hops. I played my first records (Elvis Presley and Karl Denver) using a small Dansette record player on stage at the hall. Billy Nicol had groovier 45s that included the Drifters and Del Shannon.
The dam built by my father every summer was a big attraction, with many of the young villagers learning to swim there. One evening my pals and I were standing by the bonfire when suddenly Andy Gibson shouted 'Water Rat'. Quick as a flash I dived in, swam underwater with my eyes open and caught the creature. I surfaced immediately, holding up the rat in my hand to show how clever I was. I was bitten on my thumb by the pesky brute – ouch! Not one of my brightest ideas.
The dam built by my father every summer was a big attraction, with many of the young villagers learning to swim there. One evening my pals and I were standing by the bonfire when suddenly Andy Gibson shouted 'Water Rat'. Quick as a flash I dived in, swam underwater with my eyes open and caught the creature. I surfaced immediately, holding up the rat in my hand to show how clever I was. I was bitten on my thumb by the pesky brute – ouch! Not one of my brightest ideas.
1950s
Back in the 1950s the Miners Welfare was the place to be in Waterside. The billiards and snooker hall adjoining the big hall was where it was all happening for us youngsters. Playing snooker or billiards, munching Golden Wonder crisps, drinking wee bottles of Garvie's ginger or listening to pop records from wonderful Radio Luxembourg, I never dreamt that in 2018 I would still be attending the same place (now known as the 'pool room'). The main difference is that I now drink large bottles of Tennent’s lager, and we have a digital juke box.
Photo of Edward in the pool room by Peter Comrie, 2018 |
Next up: Part 3 – the year 1962 – the land purchased for the Club; Ushers Brewers come to the rescue; and Matt Wilson’s ‘Yes, I remember then’