The Club is fortunate to possess many documents and artefacts which taken together provide a good insight to its history. The splendid 50th anniversary booklet of 1986 is augmented by dinner programmes from the 75th anniversary in 2011, followed by the 80th and 81st in 2016 and 2017 respectively. These are available here as PDF files, which are searchable if required. The 75th, 80th and 81st items are heavily populated by photographs, anecdotes, statistics, sponsors and staff members. Also available are prospectus documents from the 1950’s, and a pamphlet prepared for the 2009/2010 Edinburgh Open Doors day events.
The 1986 History is a 32 page A4 booklet, with excellent descriptions of the life of the Club, enhanced by many photographs, pen pictures and Club and international records The booklet was produced by a group of members including the evergreen Jim McLauchlan. A dinner was held in the nearby Dragonara Hotel – since renamed several times, currently in 2020 as the Britannia.. Nine Club personalities were featured in an interview format, just one of them (Olly Balfour) being interviewed again for this history – click here to see those featured. Very few other artefacts remain from the celebrations, but the short photo display below is the best we can do at the moment.
Click below to see a PDF of the 50th Anniversary booklet.
1986 – the 50th Anniversary booklet
In 2009 and again in 2010, the Club took part in the annual Edinburgh Open Doors day weekend. 2009 saw in excess of 300 visitors, who were treated to a slideshow followed by a conducted tour of the club’s facilities. Of particular interest to many visitors were the variety of Art Deco features of the building. The nearby Bells Mill site was explained, particularly as the mill lade which powered it occupies an important part of the ESC site. The slideshow below comprises a number of images shown during the event.
Bells Mill shortly before it was demolished – photo taken from Belford Bridge 
Bells Mill as it looks today, taken from a near-identical position on Belford bridge 
Some remnants of the Mill workings 
The West elevation of the Mill Office, circa 1970’s 
The West elevation of what is now the granary bar 
Bells Mill office from the east after the mill had been demolished 
Sunbury motors – Renault specialists 
The Mill Office as a vehicle paint shop 
The North elevation of the Granary Bar – the former Mill Office and garage businesses 
Bells Mill accommodation block and offices 
Art Deco features on the North elevation of the 1938 extension 
Faux pillars on the South elevation 
The elegant window on the North elevation, pierced by the rising staircase 
The 1994 Fitness Room extension was required to be constructed using the same brick course patterns as the 1936 and 1938 buildings 
Tennis taking place in 1888 on a court across the mill lade to the North West of the club 
1953 – the team visit Richmond (in a very posh and large Bentley) ESC players are Bill Shaw (holding the cup), Lowrie Sleigh, Mike Gwyer, Bobby Shaw and Michael Pentland (extreme right) 
Michael Pentland (and his wife Betty) visit the club during Open Doors day, in Michael’s case 56 years after his visit to Richmond
A tri-fold pamphlet was prepared for the event, and can be seen by clicking the link below.
2009 – The Open Doors day pamphlet
The 75th Anniversary of the Club was celebrated by a splendid dinner attended by a bevy of famous club Players, former Chairmen and many guests. The booklet shown below included the menu and toast list, also many photographs, records and memorabilia from the event. The Scotsman ran a feature, with several members, including Stevie Sproule and Raymond Stevenson contributing (PDF here). Edinburgh Life’s Peter Bourhill took some splendid photographs, and an article was published in his magazine. The slideshow below shows a variety of images from the evening.
2011 – the 75th Anniversary dinner booklet
The 80th Anniversary was celebrated by a dinner which was largely modelled on the 2011 75th event. The brochure included a page which featured the many sporting successes of that year.
2016 – the 80th Anniversary dinner booklet
The 2017 Anniversary dinner booklet for the 81st year of the Club has a page celebrating the success of club members in a variety of racket sports. The slideshow below has a number of images from the publication.
2017 European Ladies Senior – featuring table tennis club member Faye Leggett (2nd from the left) 
2017 European Mens Senior – featuring club member Calum Morrison (right) 
2017 Ladies European team featuring club members Georgia Adderley and Elspeth (Captain) Young 
2017 Mens European – team versus Germany – featuring club members Rory Stewart and Dougie kempsall 
Newspaper article featuring Faye Leggett 
Dougie Kempsall and Kevin Moran 2014 Commonwealth Doubles champions 
2017 Paderborn – ESC team in European Club Championships
2017 – the 81st Anniversary dinner booklet
The 1950’s Club Prospectus documents are early examples of the Club seeking to publicise itself to Edinburgh and beyond. Features include black and white photos of the squash and social areas, the membership and coaching charges (subscriptions all in guineas), and extensive period advertising. The application form required a proposer and seconder, and a substantial joining fee existed in those days. Click here to see a PDF of of pages from 1950’s Club Prospectus documents.
The gallery shown below shows a selection of images from two 1950’s prospectus pamphlets. It shows that annual fees for men were six guineas (five for ladies). Six guineas equates to around £230 in 2020 money. However, with court fees for roughly a couple of games a week, that would nearly double the annual cost. A full membership in 2020 is £645, but for that subscription.we now offer many more facilities than were available in the 1950’s
pplication forms from early and late 1950’s 
The Bar and Dining room pre-1968. A quarter-circular bar was located on the left of the exiting entarnce into the bar, and the dining area was at for end of the existing bar. All small and cosy! 
The 1960’s brochure showing the visit of the Duke of Edinburgh in 1960, and an article explaining the ‘Fascination of Squash Rackets’ 
The early 1950’s ‘Scale of Charges’ – all annual fees in guineas, and individual court fees were payable. Men paid six guineas , Ladies five. Six Guineas is around £230 today. Court fees could double that. 
The 1950’s application form – you could potentially be black-balled… also some topical advertising
Edinburgh Sports Club History 