Sport

Football is one of the most popular sports in Scotland. The SFA and Scottish Cup were founded in 1872 and the game became professional in 1893. Cheap railway travel allowed supporters to attend away games and attendance at football matches was massive.This shows Bo'ness Football Club with players and officials and the crowd in the background. The players wear button up strips and the goalkeeper wears a polo neck jersey. The officials wear ties and three piece suits with pocket watch chains. There were a number of football clubs in the town at this time.

Sporting societies were often set up.Bowls have been played in Scotland since at least the end of the 15th century, when there was a bowling green at the Palace of Holyrood in Edinburgh. In 1848-1849, a Glasgow solicitor formulated a set of rules for the game. These are the rules that were subsequently followed by the Scottish Bowling Association, which was founded in 1892.This photograph was taken at the opening of the season at Peterhead Bowling Club, Aberdeenshire on 13 May 1925. The President of the bowling club is addressing the members before declaring the green open and the season underway. The bowling green at Peterhead was laid in 1921, and the club was founded in 1922.

Many types of clubs and societies were becoming more popular.

The first Girl Guide companies were formed in 1910 by Agnes Baden-Powell. At a time when the demand for female autonomy was growing, there was a vast interest in the movement, which saw its membership grow to over 600,000 by 1933. Girl Guides were expected to advance themselves, through training and good conduct.This photograph shows a number of girls belonging to the 1st Loanhead Guide Company posing outside a tent, likely at Glenrath Camp. They wear their uniforms bearing badges, which denote that they have become proficient at tasks set by the Guiding movement. They learned many new skills while at camp.

Cinemas

Dedicated cinemas were built from just before the First World War (1914-1918). In the late 1920s the arrival of sound initiated a massive upgrading of the cinema stock and audienes increased greatly.This shows a view down Vicar Street, Falkirk showing tramlines and pedestrians in 1920s clothing. The Salon Cinema is showing 'New Lives for Old' and 'The Charmer'. On the right is the Grand Theatre. By 1929, Falkirk had seven cinemas. The films advertised are black and white silents made in the US in 1925.

Other leisure activities

The 20th century saw the increase of leisure time and hobbies in rural life. Transport, usually horse drawn, but increasingly motorised, made it easier for people to congregate in the villages for entertainment.The photograph shows a line up of 23 people in costume suited to the period of Rob Roy's support of the Jacobite cause in 1715 and his rebellion thereafter. The play was performed in April 1929. There is evidence that drama groups existed in all Islay parishes.

By the beginning of the 20th century a shorter working week led to an increase in leisure time, which was accompanied by an increase in disposable income. This enabled the working classes to take advantage of a widening range of recreational activities, one of the more popular of which was dancing.This shows a plan put forward by McInroy for the addition of a dance hall to his hotel. It was a simple and functional space with toilets and a stage for bands to perform. Dancing, along with going to the cinema, was second only to football as a leisure pursuit by this time.

In the 19th century, agricultural fairs were common in rural settlements. They were used for selling animals and hiring servants and farmworkers. By the 20th century, fun fairs had replaced many of these.In 1840 in Falkirk there were 7 cattle and horse fairs and 2 feeing fairs for the hiring of servants and farmworkers, apart from the trysts. Later, many fun fairs were held at here.
This is a view of a fair at Callendar Riggs on raised ground above a cobbled street with tramlines. There are various stalls, a merry-go-round, crowds, and show peoples' caravans.

Trips and holidays

During the 1920s day-trip excursions by charabanc were popular. Charabancs were open-topped coaches with rows of full-width seats. A charabanc journey would be uncomfortable as the early vehicles had solid tyres and poor springs, but they could travel to places that could not be reached by train.The Thornycroft charabanc in this photograph belonged to the Scottish Motor Traction Company (SMT). The bus driver and conductor are dressed in SMT uniform. There were no restrictions on the number of passengers and extra passengers might be squeezed onto the steps.Roslin has been a busy tourist destination since at least the 1700s. Its three main attractions were the Chapel, Castle and Roslin Glen.

The Clyde shipping Company was founded in 1815 and from 1856 ran passenger services covering the west coast of Britain and Ireland. As railway services improved, the emphasis of the passenger trade moved from essential travellers to those looking for a relaxing holiday with plenty of sea air.This brochure advertises holidays to Ireland on board the vessels of the Clyde Shipping Company. The colourful cover shows some of the sites of Ireland. The brochures offered six day round trip to Dublin, Waterford and Cork for £10.