1943
7th May 1943 Management Committee
Dr Watson reported on a meeting with Mr MacDonald, Cawdor Estate Forester, who recommended removal of the Douglas Firs and some diseased trees on the SW border of the ponds, and their replacement with Cupressus plants. Arrangements to be made with Mr Ronald Gordon for the removal of the trees.
6th October 1943 Annual General Meeting
The following office-bearers were elected:- President - Robert Park; Vice-president - James Lamb; Chaplain - Rev F S Gordon Fraser; Hon. Secretary & Treasurer - D Michael; Auditor - P F Lauder; Ice Master - Col Cram: Note that for the first time in 36 years that there is no Patron or Patroness.
The resignation of Major David Fraser DSO MC due to ill health was received with regret (a transcript follows). It was agreed to elect him to an honorary membership and to present him with a token in appreciation of his services and of the esteem in which he was held. It was minuted that Major Fraser became an original member of the Club at its inception in December 1907, was made a Member of the Committee of Management in 1921 and a Skip in 1922. He took part in almost all the Club's Competitions and Matches and played for the Club at the County and Provincial Bonspiels and also several times at The Grand Match at Carsbreck. He is the only member of the Club who has won the President's Kettle three times - having won it in January 1920, 1923 and 1940. His name appears on the Rink Tournament Challenge Cup, having skipped the winning rink in 1928/29 and altogether he was one of the Club's most successful players and won may prizes at their Competitions.
The Secretary reported the death on active service of Commander Chalmers RN.
Club funds stood at £163-2/10. The 1942/43 winter was one of the mildest – only 4 days curling in January altogether.
It was agreed to hold the Points and the Rink Tournament Cup competitions as formerly (Jack Frost permitting).
Letter received from Major David Fraser DSO MC, resigning due to ill health .
Woodville
Nairn
6/10/43
My Dear Secretary and fellow curlers,
I very much regret that I am unable to attend the annual meeting of the Club tonight. Fate has seen fit to lay me by the heels and my sporting activities are in the future to be confined to tiddly winks, forty winks and other such games I can take part in while sitting on my bum. I have, therefore, no option but to resign my membership, my office as skip and my appointment as ice-master with all the emoluments thereto attached.
You will understand how I feel about having to do this. No more will the heartstrings of the diffident and nervous member be torn by my racous shouts of joy, derision or defiance. I have spent more time on the ice than most members with less actual curling, but it was my winter hobby and I enjoyed every minute of it.
I was just getting my second wind and stepping out on the next sixty years lap when this calamity overtook me. However, I've had my crowded hour and I should not really grumble, and I look back with much pleasure on my happy association with all the other curlers, members of committee, and more particularly with the President and yourself.
On severing my connection with the club I would like to wish it a prosperous future. I am satisfied that as long as the present friendly feeling exists between the members its future is assured. By the way I made a small contribution to the club funds for remaking the surface, I still make it.
Draw to the bottle
Yours sincerely
D. Fraser. (signed)
13th December 1943 Management Committee
It was agreed that any Member of the Club, whether he had played in his own rink or not, might be played as a substitute in another rink.
The removal of the Douglas Firs to be deferred until the curling season was over.