1907

5th February 1907  from  The Nairnshire Telegraph

The Glenferness curlers are having a very good time just now, although sometimes the ice is far from satisfactory.  At point playing, Mr J Masson, Ferness Village, gained Lord Leven's silver cup, while Mr A Mackenzie, gardener, Glenferness, carried off the Jubilee Medal.  At point playing on another day for a handsome lamp, presented by Mr Munro, factor, Glenferness, one of our keenest curlers, Mr A Robertson, forester, and Mr A Mackenzie, gardener, tied, and after a most exciting tussle Mr A Robertson was declared the winner.

On Friday last, the Achnatone and Glenferness Clubs met on Loch Leven to compete for a medal.  The ice was rather soft, but notwithstanding this a most enjoyable game was played, the services of the umpire never being required. The skips on the Achnatone side were:- Mr D Rose, The Crook and Mr T B Gow, factor, Lethen;  for Glenferness Mr A Mackenzie, gardener, and Mr J Murdoch, Lynemore.  The scores were as follows:- Mr D Rose 22, Mr T B Gow 18;  Mr A Mackenzie 12, Mr J Murdoch 16. - majority for Achnatone, 12.  At the close, Mr J Murdoch, Lynemore, in proposing a vote of thanks to the winning team, said that although beaten, they were not disgraced, and expressed the hope that they would soon meet again and see whether or not they could reverse matters.  Mr T B Gow, in returning thanks, said that they had had a most enjoyable and gentlemanly game, and that he would see that Mr Murdoch would get a chance of trying to beat them.  On behalf of the club, he wished to thank Lady Leven for the handsome way in which she had treated them in providing a hot lunch, and asked Mr Munro, factor, to kindly convey to Lady Leven their high appreciation of her great kindness.

19th February 1907.  The Nairnshire Telegraph

The Ardclach Curling Club held a point playing competition for a silver medal, when Mr Donald Rose, The Crook, turned out the winner with a handsome score of 25 points, the second place being taken by Mr Alexander Fraser, Belivat, with a score of 20.

At a point playing competition on Monday last for prizes, the following turned out the winners:- 1. Mr A Mackenzie, gardener, Glenferness, silver medal; 2 Mr A Mackenzie, carpenter, tobacco pouch; 3 Mr J McGlashan, Achnabechan, 2s 6d. At the close of the game, Mr Andrew Mackenzie proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the ladies who had generously given the prizes.

19th November, 1907.  from The Nairnshire Telegraph                     Curling Club for Nairn

"On Wednesday evening a public meeting was held in the Jury Room of the County Buildings to consider the creation of forming a curling club in Nairn. Provost McIntosh presided, and the following gentlemen were present:—Messrs Wm. Whitelaw; Marshall, Johnston’s Hotel; W. C. Newbigging; James Mackenzie; Alexander Nicol; John Green; C. Carr; F. A. Fairlie, Beldornie; Alex. Finlay, Newton; Captain Rose, Ruallan; Mackintosh, Hermitage; A J. Mackintosh, Auldearn; J. Cameron, Merryton; P. M Cram; Fraser, Cafe; James Asher ; R. Park, Rowanlea; A. C. McNish, Craignish; J. A. Robertson; Jas. Sinclair, draper; J.  Mackay, Glebe End; D. G. Mackenzie; George Bain; D. M. Baillie; Herbert Ferguson; Jas. Sinclair, baker; W. Dallas; James Lamb; W. J. Browne, Brackla; G. Squair; G. Strachan; J. Fraser; J. McIntosh, chemist; D. Fraser; H. G. Strachan, &c.

The Chairman said he was much obliged to them for asking him to take the chair. It was always a pleasure to him to assist in any move­ment to add to the attraction of the town, or to give enjoyment to a number of the town's people, and he was sure if this proposal was successful that it would be a great boon to the town. He had the misfortune to be hitherto outside the brotherhood of curlers but he had been often told that it would be a great benefit to have near the town a pond for curlers, and he knew that several attempts had been made to secure such a place, but hitherto without effect. He understood that a suitable place was now to be had— or at least there was a prospect of a suitable place being got — and what they had to do was to consider ways and means of forming a pond. It had been asked several times whether the formation of a pond in Nairn would injure the Auldearn club, but be had been told by several gentlemen of the club that they were very happy to hear that such proposal was on foot in Nairn, because they knew that the Auldearn pond was too small, and on the other hand players in Nairn had expressed to him their intention of remaining members of the Auldearn club, as well as becoming members of the new club. The first important matter was to get a strong and vigorous membership, and he had no doubt if that was got—and he saw no reason why it should not—the club would be a financial success. He then referred to several methods which could be adopted for raising the necessary money.

Mr Whitelaw said that in proposing to form a club the first thing was to know how many members would join, as that would determine how many rinks would be required, and the number of rinks required would determine the cost. He put down the probable membership at 44, and he considered that the formation of four rinks would be sufficient, as that would provide curling for 32 members at one time. He also calculated that a pond containing four rinks would be large ennough for one tennis course* during the summer. The cost of a tar macadam pond, containing four rinks, he estimated at £35 per rink, or a total of £140. Then they would require a place for the storing of the stones, which would probably cost £40. Of course everything turned on whether they could get a suitable site, and if they did he thought a quarter of an acre would be sufficient. That would involve about 150 yards of fencing, which would cost £15. The only other expendi­ture would be the laying on of the water which might amount to £5, so that he estimated the total cost at £220. As to the raising of the money, he thought the best way would be to issue 44 deben­tures of £5 each, at 4 per cent., and repayable at any time by ballot, he did not think that a club of this .kind could be successfully run under an annual subscription of £1, and if the pond  was formed they would have thus an income of £44. Off that they would have to pay a caretaker and perhaps £10 as expenses for management, but even though the expenditure was a bit more than that, it seemed to him there would be a pretty reasonable margin in favour of the income. He thought the thing was feasible, and the presence of so many gentlemen was a guarantee that such a club was wanted. He did not think they would I have any difficulty in raising the money. He suggested that a committee be appointed to receive applications for membership, to take up the question of debentures, arrange as to a site, to receive offers for forming pond, erecting club house and fencing, and to report.

A number of gentlemen spoke in favour of the scheme, and the suggestion was made that the committee should consider whether six rinks might not be necessary, as it would allow of the rink being used for tennis*.

The following committee was appointed to go fully into the question and report—Provost McIntosh (convener), Mr Alex. Finlay, ex-Provost Dallas, Mr H. Ferguson, Mr James Lamb, Mr Fairlie. Mr W. Whitelaw, Mr P M. Cram and Mr Joseph Mackay. Mr George Squair was appointed secretary, ad interim.

A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the meeting."

 The subsequent reports in the Nairnshire Telegraph clearly show that plans for building a new artificial rink and clubhouse on Sir Robert  Finlay's Newton Estate must have been prepared well before hand, because, once the new club was formed, the facilities were built and ready for play within a few months of this inaugural meeting.

26th November 1907

Less than a fortnight after the first public meeting Sir Robert Finlay had leased 3/4 acre of land to the new club. This is the "south corner" of the present  Farmer's Showfield.

The Nairnshire Telegraph:   " The Nairn Curling Club - We understand that Sir R. B. Finlay has kindly acceded to the application of the recently formed Curling Club, and has agreed to give three quarters of an acre off the Field lying between the Inverness and Lodgehill roads at the south corner, at the rent of £5."

A photo-copy of the original lease can be viewed  here.

10th December 1907.   The Nairnshire Telegraph reported on a request for  Sand For the New Curling Club

In a long list of business dealt with by a newly elected Town Council was a letter from Mr Cram, requesting that the Council grant 315 cubic yards of sand for the new Curling Club, and proposing that it be taken from the shore between Shaw's Hotel and the Nairn Swimming Baths, or from the river bed between the Nairn Bridge and the railway bridge and to state terms on which same could be had.  The Council ultimately agreed that "if suitable material could be got for the Curling Club about the creek they could get it for nothing, but if not the charge would be sixpence per load."

 Provost McIntosh was the convener of the Curling Club Steering Committee and Peter Cram ( Nairn Town Council's engineer ) was a member,  but they ensured that the Common Good was served by dredging sand from the mouth of the harbour.   No such thing as vested interest here!

17th December 1907

Meanwhile,up-country the curlers of Glenferness and Ardclach (aka Achnatone) were holding their first dinner and court in grand style.

From The Nairnshire Telegraph :  

 "The Glenferness curlers held their dinner in the gun room at Glenferness House on Friday last. This room was kindly placed at their disposal by Lady Leven, who takes the keenest interest in curling, and can throw as straight a stone as any on the ice. The worthy president, Mr John Murdoch, occupied the chair, and in his usual bluff and hearty manner kept all in the best of humour. There was a record turn out, which speaks well for the enthusiasm of their energetic secretary, Mr Munro. Along with the ordinary members was a deputation from the neighbouring club of Achnatone. The dinner was a distinct success, reflecting the highest credit on the cookery and also on the committee who made the arrange­ments.  A lengthy toast list was gone through, and some of the speeches, as one member remarked, were far above the average of after-dinner speeches. The toast list ended, a curler's court was formed, with Mr D Fraser, teacher, Achna­tone, presiding, and the Glenferness members were initiated into the mysteries of curling. The usual votes of thanks brought the entertainment to a close, and altogether the time passed far too quickly."