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Woman removed from Kirriemuir Bowling Club in bitter equality row

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A woman who challenged perceived “dinosaur attitudes” at her local bowling club claims she was escorted from the clubhouse “like a common criminal”.

Margaret Pollock was waging a solo war to “reform” Kirriemuir Bowling Club, even after recent equality law changes notionally placed male and female members on an equal footing.

But the former head teacher has been expelled from the club one month into the new season, after a special general meeting was called to discuss whether she has brought it into disrepute.

Mrs Pollock has asked for an apology and reinstatement, saying instead that her own “good character” has been brought into question.

“I could write a book on my experiences in the short time I have been a member of the club,” she said. “I was escorted in and out of the club like a common criminal so that I could ‘clear my desk’ and return any property belonging to the club all this in the name of sport.”

Mrs Pollock became the first woman in the club’s 144-year history to pay £135 for a full membership at the beginning of this season.

At 66, she was one of the youngest members and believes she represents a generation of women that will not “make do with serving sandwiches for a half-price ticket”, or take to the greens at tightly-controlled times.

Many clubs operate a reduced tariff for female members, in exchange for separate times on the bowling green.

Kirriemuir’s season started for men on April 19 and April 21 for women, part of what she described as a “lip-service” approach to equality.

A meeting of the club’s all-male committee invited her to answer to the charge that her public battle has besmirched the club.

“I was summoned to a disciplinary meeting to answer the charge that I had possibly brought the club into disrepute due to a number of statements I had made,” she said.

However, Mrs Pollock said she refused the invitation because she believed it would not be impartial, and “following this, the management committee called a special general meeting to discuss the conduct of a member”.

“According to one member of the committee I was voted out unanimously by members present at this meeting, so one month exactly after the opening day my membership has been terminated and I am no longer even allowed to go and watch at Kirriemuir Bowling Club.”

A spokesman for the club said: “The club can confirm that Mrs Margaret Pollock was removed from the roll of membership in accordance with the procedures in club constitution and bylaws.

“Mrs Margaret Pollock was entitled to attend the meeting but did not do so.”

Mrs Pollock said: “I did not go to this meeting as I had had several experiences of attending both ladies’ meetings and gents’ meetings where I felt like the fox or vixen in my case at the hunt.“

The former Glenisla Primary and then Tannadice Primary teacher believes members have left in the past because they have felt frustration at the club’s structure.

At the club, full members’ fees are £135 or £120 for seniors, and restricted members’ fees are £85 or £75 for seniors.