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Mike Steer took over as editor of the
Clang in January 2002. Here is his article (from the July 2002 edition) on
how the newsletter evolved.
THE BOWDON CLANG
A brief history
The first clang appeared in July 1991, edited by
Brian Storey and opened with the words 'This is the first edition of a new
style newsletter which I hope will meet with approval'. Well, it certainly
did meet with approval and I think we have to thank Brian for starting something
which has become an essential part of our club. Interestingly in that
first edition is an article stating that the new lawn shelters were now finished
having replaced the ones which had been there for 65 years. Club membership
had reached 97 with 63 being full paying members.
Brian continued as editor up to, and including, September 1994 when the job
was taken over by Alan Linton. Alan produced his first Clang in December
1994, carrying on the high standard set but, not being one to blow his own
trumpet, omitting to say who he was. This elicited something which is as
rare as hens' teeth - a letter to the editor, in the next edition,
asking him to identify himself. Items, included in Alan's first Clang:- a
reminder to members that the club lock had been changed and to hand in their
old keys. Liz and Rupert Webb were off to South Africa. The lawns were in
a bad way with very shallow roots, compacted and acidic sub soil. £2,500
was to be invested in treatment. Money well spent I would say!
Alan continued as editor up to and including the March 1999 edition. I think
we got a taste of what was in store with headlines like:- Silly Surbiton
knock Bowdon out of Inter-Club and How to be a Bandit.....Brian Medley offers
up a farrago of opinionated tosh in the forlorn hope of provoking some letters
to the Clang. It wasn't tosh of course and I don't think it provoked any
letters. Nice try Brian. Whilst on the subject of letters to the editor it
is worthy of note that each has tried in his own way to conjure up this elusive
beast. In March 1993, Brian-the-First printed a large frame on one page with
the words:- "Could you have filled this space?" and then in a later edition
after actually receiving a letter commented rather ruefully that there had
only been two letters since the Clang began. Alan went for the direct approach
after his success with 'guess who the editor is?' opening gambit and I
think letters from none other than Bill Lamb (whose book you no doubt will
have read) and from Jim Audas on behalf of the visiting U.S. Solomon Trophy
Team must have been very pleasing, along with several from club members.
Copies of all the Clangs produced are contained in a large black arch file
situated somewhere on the shelves of the bookcase by the 'phone. Do have
a look through these as they do contain quite a lot of the history of the
club, not just since the beginning of the Clang in '91 but, in articles,
beyond that. For example, in the September 1991 edition are extracts from
the minutes of the committee meetings in 1911 and 1912 and a graph in the
December 1992 issue shows the growth of the club since 1981. Read the
article in the March 1994 issue entitled "Not many people know this". In
the January 1997 edition is a three part history of Croquet by Chris Hall;
the other two parts appearing in the next two editions.
If history is not your thing there are still lots of articles to tickle your
fancy and to amuse. There is a lot of good stuff in there and plenty of jokes.
Clang has been a lively publication from the start and makes a good read.
So, if your opponent is going round with a bucketful of bisques and there
seems no prospect of you picking up a mallet for the next hour, have a read
of these early Clangs, they will raise your spirits.
And finally, if you cannot find the time to plough through all past editions
of Clang, may I suggest you go back to July 1992 and read the page entitled
"DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN?". I like the joke three lines from the end and of
course I include myself among the mature livestock mentioned.....
Mike Steer
Clang
July 2002