IT is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Peeblesshire.

Throughout the summer bowlers in Peebles took to the green for the 190th year.

And going by the membership numbers, entries and standard of play, the club is as strong as ever.

Tonight (Friday) there will be a celebration dinner to mark the anniversary.

You have to go all the way back to 1829 for the election of Peebles Bowling Club's first president, James Scott.

There were eight members at the inaugural meeting who were satisfied with Mr Scott’s 'superior knowledge' of the sport to elect him.

At that time a green had been established behind the Parish Church.

By 1855 the membership of Peebles Bowling Club had swollen to 40 'gentlemen of the town'.

The move to the current green at Walkershaugh took place in 1873.

A loan of £200 was secured from the then proprietor of the Tontine Hotel to help meet the £208.35 bill for creating the new green - £22,216 in today's money.

The next milestone year for the club arrived in 1912.

Having previously been paying rent for the use of Walkershaugh, a decision was made to buy the ground and premises.

Members decided to host a bazaar to help fundraise for the purchase.

The 1912 bazaar raised an astonishing £739 - an equivalent today of £82,917.

Peebles Bowling Club had now become the property of its members and a group of trustees were appointed to oversee the ownership - a model that is still used at the Walkershaugh club.

Just two years later, before the outbreak of the Great War, a pavilion described as 'one of the handsomest in the country' was built.

The original 1914 fine-art ceiling is still in place, although today a suspended ceiling hides it from view.

As with clubs and organisations all over Peeblesshire, Peebles Bowling Club suffered the loss of members on the battlefields of Europe.

They are remembered with plaque on the clubhouse.

Ladies were admitted to Peebles Bowling Club for the first time in 1920.

Annual subscriptions of 5s 6d (£0.77) for women members, while gentlemen were charged the sum of 21s (£1.05).

The same year saw the introduction of the Glenconner Shield, presented by Lord Glenconner in commemoration of Peeblesshire County Bowlers who fell in the Great War.

The Shield is still competed for annually by bowlers from across the county with Peebles victorious this year.

Just before World War II, a Peeblesshire bowler, J D Brown, was selected to represent their country for the first time.

As a mark of respect to the soldiers who fought in the Second World War, Peebles Bowling Club awarded all returning servicemen freedom of the green.

The Club continued to flourish in the decades after the War.

Membership in 1955 had reached 66, and matches were regularly taking place against teams from across the Borders and Lothians.

Some of the biggest changes in the club's history came in the 1960s.

In 1963 ladies were permitted to use the green in the evenings as well as afternoons.

And four years later, Sunday bowling was permitted for the first time.

Attempts for a lady member to be elected to the Club's committee in 1971 were thwarted when it was discovered the plans breached the historic constitution.

It took four years for the constitution to be changed, resulting in women being allowed to take their place on the committee - the first lady president, Helen Duthie, was elected in 1990.

Throughout the 1980s there were further changes and improvements at Peebles Bowling Club.

The club's bar was controversially opened in 1983.

Club historian Lynsey Brown told us: "Much discussion and deliberation took place about this change, with objections and resignations with some members to this day not using this facility.

"Despite that it has seen some celebrations and fun over the years – one particular memory for me being when long standing member Janet Brown was bestowed the honour of The Crowning Lady, in the Beltane Festival.

"Her bowling friends decided to throw her a party, who ever knew the singing of the Music Man could cause so much hilarity."

The clubhouse was redeveloped in 1987 to allow for more lounge space.

The entire project was funded by members.

Long standing member Brian Warner said: "I fondly remember the opening of the new facilities when Bob Sutherland, a Scottish World Indoor Bowls Champion, did the honours and played against the then club champion Ivor Vannan."

The social side of the club continued to prosper with monthly 'theme nights' being staged throughout the winter.

Brian added: "Members enjoyed food and wine from around the world, prepared by their fellow members. A good time was had by all."

It was on the green where success came after the turn of the millennium.

Teams from both the ladies and gents sections of the club qualified for the national championships in Ayr to represent the Borders.

With membership continuing to increase year on year, the future of Peebles Bowling Club was bright.

But disaster struck in 2015 when the clubhouse and green were left under water during the 'great flood'.

Thanks to the commitment and hard-work of members and friends the future of Peebles Bowling Club was salvaged.

Over the past three years there has been a 60 percent increase in membership at Walkershaugh - now standing at 140 members.

The 190th anniversary year has been also successful one for the Club, having topped the table in both the Border and County leagues, and gaining promotion to Division One in the Border League.

Wins in the Glenconner Shield, County Singles and County Pairs have added icing to the birthday cake.

Tonight members will celebrate the Club's 190th anniversary with a celebration dinner.

And sporting activity will continue throughout the winter with Peebles Bowling Club for the first time ever entering a team in the Peebles Darts League.

Bowling will recommence next April and new members are always welcome, both playing and social.