Reports of Dinners & Courts from RCCC Annuals

R.C.C.C. Annual Reports: Annual Dinner & Court - Top Table 1961

R.C.C.C. Annual Reports: Report of Annual Dinner & Court 1962

NAIRN C.C.

Ninety curlers attended a highly successful Dinner and Court held by the Nairn Club. The Chairman and President, Robert Taylor, ably assisted by Tom Walls, Dr Ian Macfadyen and Eric Brown, initiated the following seventeen curlers to the Court:

From Aberdeen—Dr Tom Allison and John Allison. Ardclach—Sandy Innes, Jnr. Cawdor—Tom Burnett, T. R. Fraser and T. W. Pendreigh. Eaglesham—Martin Watson. Forres—Kay Kilgour and Ralph Leask. Nairn—Rev. John W. Cumming, P. G. A. R. Lobban, K. J. Macdiarmid, Col. Maclagan, John Orr, Keith Smith, Ian Thomson and Major C. J. Wilson-Clarke.

After "The Queen", David Macarthur proposed "Jack Frost". The Chair­man toasted The Royal Caledonian Curling Club and Jim Couper, Council Member, replied.

The close associations formed with "Neighbouring Clubs" were expressed by Dr Douglas Macdonald. In reply, Len Hutchison promised continued rivalry and good fellowship.

Dr H. H. Gebbie wittily proposed "Wives and Sweethearts" and Major Wilson-Clarke was equally witty in reply. Hugh McCallum gave the vote of thanks to the Chairman and the evening closed on the stroke of midnight.

Percy Knight and Robert Mirtle (the entertainers) and James McMorran (who made the musical arrangements) earned the gratitude of all. A happy interlude was the presentation of a cheque by the Chairman to the Club's indefatigable iceman, Fred Knowles. The gift was subscribed to by all local curlers for Fred's valued services at all times of the day and night for the past fifteen years.

R.C.C.C. Annual Reports: Report of Annual Dinner & Court 1963

NAIRN C.C.

On 8th February 1963, 92 attended the Annual Dinner and Court of the Nairn Curling Club under the Chairmanship of Eric Brown (President).

Guests of the Club for the evening were Gilbert McClung, to whom the Chairman expressed a very warm welcome in view of his arduous programme Stirling Kirkland (Inverness), Lord Leven (Glenferness) and Percy Knight (attending his 36th Nairn Dinner).

A full programme of speeches, singing and Courts (during which eight new members were "made"), made the evening a most enjoyable function and once again proved the enthusiasm for the sport in Nairn.

A. Gunn, Secretary.

R.C.C.C. Annual Reports: Report of Annual Dinner & Court 1965

NAIRN C.C.

Major Allan Cameron, Allangrange, President of the Royal Caledonian Curling Club was guest of honour among many guests from other clubs when a large company spent a most enjoyable night at the Nairn Club annual dinner and court in the Royal Hotel.

E. F. Brown, President, welcomed the company, referring to the pleasure it gave them to have the Royal Club President with them and to the honour it was for the Highland Clubs to have one of their members in this high office.

Grace was said by the Club Chaplain (the Rev. J. W. Cumming) and "Jack Frost" was toasted by D. Fraser. The Chairman proposed the toast to the "Royal Caledonian Club" to which Major Cameron replied. "Neighbouring Clubs" was given by Colonel D. H. W. Brown and Dr J. Adam, Forres replied. E. Grieve proposed "Wives and Sweethearts" and D. Stevenson replied. The Chairman was toasted by S. Kirkland, Highland. James McMorran rendered indispensable service at the piano and arranged the musical programme.

The President, assisted by T. Walls, R. A. Fraser and Dr J. McFadyen installed the following initiates.—M. M. Grant, P. Green, R. Macdonald, Dr W. B. Stewart of Nairn; Messrs I. Bruce, J. Rose, J. Clark and J. Alexander from Dalcross; and J. Clark from Ardclach.

It was the feeling of the gathering that congratulations were well deserved by the Chairman for his punctilious handling of the full programme which finished on the stroke of midnight. Moreover, every guest observed that the meal could not have been better.

R.C.C.C. Annual Reports: Report of Annual Dinner & Court 1966

NAIRN CURLERS' DINNER AND COURT

The Nairn Curling Club's 58th Dinner and Court was held at the Royal Hotel, Nairn, on 5th February, 1965. Grace was said by the Club Chaplain (Rev. J. W. Cumming). The Chairman and President, Robert A. Fraser conducted the proceedings with a friendly skill and calmness, which made the evening an excellent success. The Toast of "Jack Frost" was given by the Provost of Nairn, Fred. Knowles, whose eulogising of this immortal element was remarkable for its original theme. No-one better than the Speaker knows the vicissitudes of this Lord and Master of Ice.

The Toast to the Royal Caledonian Curling Club was suitably given by Alan Johnston, from Aberdeen, who recently had returned from a hectic tour of Canada. He expressed his great pleasure and honour to speak at this Dinner, thereby allowing him to give, at first hand, the sincerest wishes of all Canadian Curlers to the Clubs of this country.

Norman Beaton's witty comments in toasting "Neighbouring Clubs" did full justice to their friendly hospitality at all times. The reply from Bill Souter of the Highland Club aptly conveyed the warmth of competitive club games in rivalry and good fellowship, so pre-eminent in Curling.

Doctor Bryce Stewart, in giving the Toast to "Wives and Sweethearts" commenced by pleading inability, inexperience, and ignorance in being able to give full weight to such an important Toast. He readily disabused our minds of his alleged incapability, albeit with charm and great humour. In replying to the toast, with studied and unique brevity, Finlay Lamont assisted greatly in not delaying our dutiful return to the absent recipients of the Toast.

Finally, it was most pleasurable to hear David Macarthur from the Ardclach Club give his thanks to our Worthy Chairman. He did this with an extremely kind gesture by pinning a Canadian Tour Badge on our President's lapel, and followed up by presenting a badge to each Club within our Province. Such tokens of esteem flow easily from this genial giant of the Rink, who was a great Ambassador, not only of our Province, but of Scotland, when in Canada.

Prior to the close of a wonderful evening, the President presented to Sammy Mac Arthur the Royal Caledonian Curling Club Medal as Skip of the winning Ardclach Rink, which included that stalwart of many years of Curling, Robert Stewart.

A keen member of the Club reports: "The Nairn Club are more than fortunate in having a Secretary of the calibre of Sandy Gunn. Long may we retain his valued services to enable the Club to operate as at present and organise such pleasant functions."

R.C.C.C. Annual Reports: Report of Annual Dinner & Court 1967

NAIRN C.C.

NAIRN Curling Club's annual dinner and court attracted over 90 curlers. Sandy Russell from Newtonmore, a former vice-president of the R.C.C.C., was principal guest and speaker. Replying to the Toast to the R.C.C.C. given by our Chairman, Robert Fraser, he emphasised the tremendous individual, if not hazardous, responsibility involved of any office held in the R.C.C.C. or member Club and accorded his thanks to our Chairman and Club for a splendid evening.

Five new members were initiated, Stan Smith, Harold Forrester, Bob Byers, Henry Downie and David Stewart.

The toast to "Jack Frost" was ably given by Cyril J. Wilson-Clarke, who asserted the fickleness of this gentleman but, nevertheless, proclaimed "Jack Frost's" efficiency in assisting the "Draw" to the bottle for any "bottle-scared" curler!

James Webster, in proposing the toast to "Neighbouring" Clubs, neatly and wittily gave statistics, albeit "vital", eulogising with honesty the esteem in which our neighbours are held. Douglas Stewart, of the Ardclach Club replied and gave a "zip" to the proceedings. Keith Smart toasted "Wives and Sweethearts" in such commendable fashion, that one will never fear the non-appearance of any curler to any of the club's future functions. Gordon MacLean was an excellent ambassador on behalf of our wives and sweethearts, almost deluding us into remaining at the tables beyond our permitted "leave".

Eric Brown wound up our annual event with a fitting gesture of thanks to Robert Fraser for once again officiating and bringing the closure at the stroke of midnight.

The Club's appreciation and thanks are due to Percy (Foggy Dew) Knight, in his 85th year and appearing for the 38th time at this annual dinner; to Jim McMorran and James McLeod for their musical talent; to David Macarthur in extracting from Ronald Gordon and his immediate associates a generous prize for the Stoup—kindly returned for club funds; and to James Asher, Duncan Ross and Co., for presenting the initiates with such professional elan.

Again Robert Fraser, Dr. Ian MacFadyen, Tom Walls, Eric Brown,. Donald Fraser and Sandy Gunn to name but a few of the enthusiasts, must be very satisfied for such a successful evening following their un­stinting labours. Brother curler Walter Walker, "mine host", again produced, as he so often does, fare worthy of this function