The Royal Liverpool Golf Club


Gift Book Locked away, buried among other documents and gathering dust, the Club Gift Book came to light again last year. It is an extremely handsome album, bound in dark green leather finished with the Club crest and gold decorative embellishments. There is no record of who “gifted” the Gift book itself, but the very first entry was the telescope presented by the first Captain, J Muir Dowie, which now stands proudly in the Library. Over its history, the book had fallen out of use and into disrepair.


With entries ceasing in 1933, the late Jos Armitage (Ionicus) did a sterling job by updating the entries from 1984 to 1996 in his fine manuscript hand. The book has been updated recently by the Secretary with the best records we have since then, and we will continue to ensure that it is kept up to date. The list of entries tells us much about the style and history of the Club especially in its early years. Perhaps when there was a reluctance to spend subscription income on anything other than golf and prizes, some of the gifts illuminate those times. A selection of some of the more interesting entries is listed here (some of which could not be inscribed!). n


DATE GIFT RECEIVED 1889 A Clock Barometer


1894 Engraved Portraits The Duke & Duchess of Connaught


1895 Two Stags Heads (!)


1896 Ram’s Head with Snuff Box 1897 Tablet for names of Captains 1901 Portrait of Harold Hilton by Inglis


1905 Stuffed Bird in Case 1907 Fire Hose


1927 Fireplace for Billiard Room 1930 Portrait of R T Jones


1950 Portrait of Lt Col E H Kennard 1964 Posts & Railings at 1st Tee


1980 Honours Board in memory of J S Roddam


1987 Framed Arthur Weaver Print, Nicklaus on 9th Tee in 1967


2005 A large Collection of Books in memory of J E Behrend


DONATOR James B Fortune


Alexander Sinclair C Tempest Dixon J Gould Smyth G C H Dunlop


Inglis’ Team of Irish Golfers


P Le Gros J H Angus


1912 Portrait of the late Harold Janion Stuart Johnston 1912 Moose Head (!)


J H Edwards S Downs J R Dixon


C K M Dundas R B Moon


R D Haydock R S Cornelius 2002 Historical Watercolour of the Links M B Owen Anonymous


Left: Now refurbished, the Gift Book will sit on public view on Sir Tom Harley’s table in the Club Room for inspection and due recognition of the donors.


Right: Perhaps Mr S. Downs, donor of the billiard room fireplace, didn’t like his cue to be cold.


Left: The Dowie telescope can be found in the clubhouse library.


ROYAL LIVERPOOL GOLF CLUB 2017 MAGAZINE


17


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