A MEMORIAL event has been held to honour members of a bowling club who passed away during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Yarrow Recreational Club, based on Anniesland Road, hosted the event on Saturday to remember its late members and loved ones after restrictions eased.

All proceeds from the night went to the COPE Scotland charity, which provides people with wellbeing help and advice to support them through difficult times in their lives.

Club chairperson Rosemary Lee told the Post the evening was a fitting tribute to those lost during the pandemic.

She said: “We sadly lost a few members of the club due to Covid and some of our members also lost partners.

“Because of the restrictions, we felt nobody was able to properly pay their respects to them, and I was considering what we could do after lockdown to honour them.

“I thought we could have some sort of celebration to lift people’s spirits a bit, rather than a club function.

“All the proceeds will be going to COPE Scotland, which is a mental health charity. We wanted to keep the cause local.

“I arranged for a piper to come and the celebrant, James O’Neil from Clydebank, said a few words.

“We also got some young people to come along and commemorate the planting of a special tree.

“We thought it would be nice to bring attention to something a bit more positive during what has been a difficult time.”

Rosemary said members have “really missed” interacting with others because of the socialising limits imposed by Covid.

She added: “We are still not able to play properly yet or do big competitions but we’re hoping to do that next year.

“We’ve had the local gents’ bowling competition and from about mid-July we’ve been able to have people out playing, but with Covid restrictions on numbers allowed on the green being monitored as well as hygiene measures and social distancing in place.

“We sold 150 tickets within seven days for the memorial event and people were desperate to get back. It was the first social event after lockdown for some and it was nice to see members together again.

“Members have really missed the social side of the bowling club.”

To keep up to date with the club and its activities, search for Yarrow Recreational Club on Facebook.