Selkirk Bowling Club was founded in 1855. To begin with the club was exclusively business men, in fact a second club was started in the town for other members of the general public to join. Thankfully over the years changes have been made and anyone can join with new members starting every year.

Originally women were only allowed to play if their husbands were members. In 1956, the first official Ladies section was started giving women the chance to join regardless whether their husbands were members or not. The two divisions were kept separate with a Mens Committee and a Ladies Committee but things were to change again in 1997. To meet with the changing times the Mens and Ladies Sections were amalgamated and only one President and Committee presides over all.

The first President of the club was Mr George Roberts. A new President is elected every year

The Ladies still have their own sub-section that deals with their competitions and league matches. A new ladies spokesperson is elected every year.

Fletcher

The story of Fletcher, the tradition goes that eighty men set forth to the Border with King David in 1513, leaving behind only the old men, the womenfolk and the bairns. One - weary, exhausted one - came back. Watchers gave the news and a silent, fearful crowd awaited the lone warrior as he came through the gate in the South Port and, unspeaking, made his way to the Market Place. He was recognised as one of the the five Fletcher brothers. At last he stopped and, in a wordless gesture which told all, raised a blood-stained English banner aloft and cast it in grief to the ground. In that gesture, now immortalised in the casting of the colours, Selkirk learned that all but one of her yougest and bravest had died with their King. The Flo'ers o' the Forest were a' wede away !

This is the first verse of a local song depicting Selkirk's origins.

Auld Selkirk Toun

Auld Selkirk Toun's a bonnie toun
The favoured Forest Queen
The ancient haunt of Royalty
What splendour has been seen.
The Souter dreams aboot the past
In ages far awa'
As he gangs up the New Road
Or doon the Back Raw.

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