'I thought I played fairly well in the 10 end game, but never in my wildest dreams could I have anticipated the part this game would play in my future life.'

'I thought I played fairly well in the 10 end game, but never in my wildest dreams could I have anticipated the part this game would play in my future life.'

Tom remembers the auxiliary fire service he used to be part of and how he got involved into bowling one day after his fire practice.

Tom Sutton

Trinity College Dublin

1941

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Tom Sutton

Work and Employment

Life Story

Belfast

1940s

As factory workers finished work for the day, they were subject to a possible body search in case they were taking out any tobacco or cigarettes illegally. Occasionally, it was something I had to help with. It was not the most pleasant job, but I didn't do the searching -just to point out the persons who had to be. One day I sent in a well liked worker and to the amazement, not only to myself but others, it was discovered he had over 1 pound of tobacco under the cap he was wearing -and he didn't even smoke -naturally, he lost his job.Murrays formed their own fire service and I was their youngest recruit. It was a scammel pump they had, not a proper fire engine, and could be pulled around by any vehicle with a tow bar. Practices took place on Sunday morning on the lagan embankment. The value of the fire service was shown in the blitz by the Germans on Belfast in July, 1941, when their efforts saved the bond store off Culintree Road, which was set alight by numerous fire bombs. Alas, the bond store at Talbot Street, off Lower Donegall Street in Belfast received direct hits by high explosives and fire bombs, with great loss of stock and much damage to the building.A few days later, after this fateful night, I happened to be coming through Alexandra Park -not far from my home when I stopped, feeling tired, to lean on the railings around the bowling green and watch a few men playing the game of bowls. Just as I was about to leave one man called 'would you like to come and join us and have a game?_ѝ I tried to decline, but he was quite insistent and very quickly had got me a pair of bowls and a pair of mutton dummies (flat soled sandshoes) and soon I was out on the lovely carpet of grass and being introduced to the others playing. I was the second of one side of four and being shown the bias side of the bowl, I thought I played fairly well in the 10 end game, but never in my wildest dreams could I have anticipated the part this game would play in my future life. I was asked to come back for a game anytime that suited me and this I did on several occasions throughout the outdoor bowling season.Early next year, some of the workers in Murrays talked about starting a bowling club -probably because Gallaghers had one and, having heard that I had played the game, albeit a little, I was appointed to meet officials of the Northern Ireland Bowling Association, to see if they could set up in Ormeau Park. Straightaway that was out of the question for, whilst Ormeau Park had two greens, six clubs already played there and it would be quite impossible to accommodate another club there.Falls Park was put forward as an alternative, as only Divis 1st and 2nd teams used the green there. Whilst it crossed my mind, as Murrays office and factory were situated just at the end of Sandy Row, there might be some a little reluctant to go to Falls Park. However, no objections -sensibility reigned and we joined the Public Parks Junior League. The Divis Club members gave us a very warm welcome and on the opening day of the season, a very enjoyable day was had by all with members from both clubs playing together on the various rinks, followed by a very nice tea.Whilst Divis league games were on a Saturday afternoon, ours were on a Saturday night and we always got great support from many Divis members and one in particular, Irish International, Jack McKenna. Madge Boyle, another great Divis member -good bowler, tea maker and, later on, of the Irish Ladies under 25s team.Murrays team were not particularly successful -more games lost than won but, nevertheless, everyone enjoyed it but alas, difficult times came when the five day working week was introduced and one or two failed to turn up for the match at night. Excuses were made on Monday morning for their non-attendance. 'Had to take the Wife and family out for the day_ѝ was a typical one, but few admitted they had been in a pub from 11.30 a.m. and too sozzled to stand up, let alone play bowls. Alas, the club folded up after just a few years. Alas, after bad, there always comes something good is an old saying and in my case it was to join Carrick Bowling Club the next season, where we had the bookshop and yet another shop in Market Place, which mainly sold toys, souvenirs and fancy goods.In my first year in the Bowling Club, I won all the club competitions, whilst the team enjoyed respect from all other clubs in the league, especially when it was a home game at Shaftesbury Park.Major William Baird, owner of the Belfast Telegraph and a past president of the Irish Bowling Association in 1928 and 1929 was brought down in a wheelchair to watch all our home matches.

Irish Research Council for Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences (IRCHSS)

Dr Kathleen McTiernan (Trinity College Dublin)

Dr Deirdre O'Donnell (Trinity College Dublin)