A long-serving married couple were given the honour of opening Aberdeen’s 2018 bowling season in front of a world-class curler this weekend.
Ella Murray, 89, and her husband Jim, 91, took to the green to roll the first lawn bowls at the city’s bowling club on Carlton Place on Saturday afternoon.
The couple have been members of the club since 1991, and were presented with a commemorative certificate of their dedication to the sport by curling gold medallist Jackie Lockhart.
Mrs Murray said she was hooked on the sport after trying it for the first time 27 years ago.
“It was an original bowler who lived quite near us and asked my husband if we would like to join,” she said.
“He joined earlier in the year and I came along later.
“We enjoy the company and to be out on the green on a nice, sunny day.”
John Allison, the bowling club chairman, said: “It’s an annual tradition we have to roll the first bowl.
“This year we thought we would give Jim and Ella the honour.
“No-one can play on the green until it is officially opened.
“They were quite chuffed when they were asked, and it was made even more special by the fact we had Jackie Lockhart with us.”
Mrs Lockhart, who lives in Stonehaven, has represented Scotland in a number of curling world championships.
She led her national side to a gold medal in 2002, and a bronze in 2007 and, most recently, has been part of the BBC’s Winter Olympics curling coverage.
Mr Allison said: “I was listening to the curling commentary and she mentioned that she was going to take up bowling someday, as the start of the season coincides with the end of the curling season.
“So I wrote her a letter and she was very pleased to be invited along.”
The club, which is the oldest in Aberdeen, is now gearing up for its next open day to encourage newcomers to the sport.
It will be held from 2pm to 4pm on Saturday, May 26.