1945

13th July 1945. Management Committee Meeting

The firm of Wm Briggs was authorised to resurface the ponds after making good the cracks. The surfacing to be bitumen emulsion, sand and hardwood sawdust. Mr W Fraser had resigned as iceman, to be replaced by Mr David Morrison (Brunswick), on condition the post did not interfere with his privileges of membership. Mr Morrison had stepped into the breach when the Club had experienced difficulty in recruiting a replacement, and "the co-operation of members in securing this condition was earnestly sought."

September 1945 - End of WWll

Three of the original founding members were not to enjoy the final victory celebrations. Joseph Mackay died suddenly in 1943 and, after a short illness, Major Fraser passed away the same year. Robert Park was too ill to attend the annual general meeting in October 1945 and died shortly afterwards. The Club had come through the war relatively unscathed with a membership of about sixty and with a healthy bank balance. The only recorded casualty was that of Commander A. R. Chalmer, R.N., who was killed while on war duty in the London area in 1942. The Club minutes also record the return of its Chaplain, Rev. F. S. Gordon Fraser “– from his temporary abode in Germany.” He had departed as an army chaplain in 1939 and had been captured the following year. The other returning “regular” soldier was J. E. Stirling who had left Nairn in 1939 as a Major and returned as a Brigadier. He was now the most distinguished member of the Club and was to become Lord Lieutenant of Nairnshire. The other members who came home after the armistice were both members of the Medical Corps, Drs Reginald Kirk Hanlin and Eric Jamieson.

The refurbishment of the Lodgehill ponds was planned to take place immediately after the end of hostilities, but the best intentions of the Club to resurface the ponds and install electric flood lighting was to be beset by the scarcity of materials in the immediate post war years.

12th October 1945 Annual General Meeting

An apology for abscence due to illness was received from Robert Park. All the Office bearers were re-elected for a further year.

The Club accounts showed a balance in hand of £214.11/- . Satsfactory progress on resurfacing the ponds was reported, and the felling of the Douglas Firs and their troublesome needles had been carried out. A sub committee to look into the provision of electric light was formed.

All pre-war competitions are to be re-instated and restrictions on playing hours lifted. Skips are to be given a free hand regarding substitutes to facilitate the completion of competitions.

Days curling for 1944/45

23rd November 1945 Management Committee

The death of President Robert Park on 10th Nov noted. Tributes were paid by Mr D Michael and Dr J Innes Watson. It was decided to rename the Club’s knock-out Challenge Cup "The Park Cup" in his honour.

Mr James Lamb was elected President and, on the retiral of Donald Michael, Dr J Innes Watson Vice-president.

Difficulties in obtaining the materials for changing the lighting were reported.

1945 RCCC Annual

THE LATE MR. ROBERT PARK (NAIRN).

Mr. Park passed from our midst on 10th November 1945, deeply regretted by all.

He was a keen sportsman all his life and devoted himself more particularly to fishing, golfing, and curling. Besides having been Captain and a Vice-President of the Nairn Golf Club, he was a member of the Royal and Ancient, and of its Committee.

He was one of the few survivors of the members who formed the Nairn Curling Club in 1907, and filled the Chair as President of the Club from 1922 till his death. He took a great interest in everything that tended towards the well-being of the Club and has now gone, leaving it, notwithstanding world wars and other troubles, in a flourishing condition. He was a keen, enthusiastic curler, skipped his Rink at all Local Matches and County and Provincial Bonspiels and travelled repeatedly to Carsebreck to play in the Grand Match or, as happened more than once, to go part of the way only, owing to the vagaries of the weather. Mr. Park was of a very happy disposition and had the faculty of making friends wherever he went, and to be with him on the ice was sheer delight. He was the ideal ' My Lord ' at the Club's and County Association's Dinners and Chairman of the festive board at Perth on the way back from Carsebreck. With his fine tall figure and his cultured eloquent gift of speech he controlled these gatherings, where the fun was oft fast and furious, in a good-humouredly manner, that left everyone, including himself, exceedingly happy. The Club now mourn the loss of one whose place it will be difficult to fill—inspired, however, by his feeling of good brotherhood and desire always to ' play the game. '

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