1958

25th Feb., 1958 - Nairnshire Telegraph

CURLING CLUB JUBILEE MARKED BY PRESENCE OF 'ROYAL CALEDONIAN' CHIEF

Nairn President Tells Of Beginnings Here 50 Years Ago

FIFTY years ago this season Nairn Curling Club was formed and at a jubilee dinner held in the Royal Hotel, Nairn, on Feb. 14 to mark the notable anniversary the guest of honour was Sir John Muir, Bt., president of the Royal Caledonian Curling Club, while the Nairn Club president, Mr David Brown, gave the 76 guests an interesting outline of the Club's history and called for a toast to the "Jubilee Year."

Representatives from Inverness, Ardclach, Cawdor and Glenferness Clubs were welcomed when the company sat down to a very fine dinner provided by the hotel management.

After the Loyal Toast had been honoured on the call of Mr Brown, a fine cake, baked and gifted by Mr James Asher, bearing fifty candles, was carried in by Dr J. McFadyen and Mr R. Taylor, preceded by Piper Macgregor.

Mr Brown then presented the fascinating outline of the Club's history, dealing concisely with its beginnings and touching on some of those who were its founders. (Because the subject is one of general local history we have Mr Brown's permission to reproduce below, part of his address, which he compiled after considerable research).

“Jack Frost" was most ably proposed by Mr C. A. Graham; it was warmly acclaimed and toasted with enthusiasm.

Six Initiates

Dr D. R. Macdonald gave "The Royal Caledonian Curling Club" and Sir John Muir replied. It fell to Mr Walter S. Williams to propose “Neighbouring Clubs" and to it Mr Harry Keay, Inverness, replied. “Wives and sweethearts" was given by Mr Hugh Munn and Mr Robert Mirtle, jun., replied. Mr Robert Taylor gave “The Chairman" and all the addresses gave considerable pleasure.

During the proceedings six new members were initiated.

The musical part of the programme was arranged by Mr Robt. Mirtle, sen., and Mr James McMorran, who was at the piano, and those contributing to it included Mr P. C. Knight, Mr Sandy Tulloch, Mr R. Mirtle, sen., with Mr R. Mirtle, jun., as compere.

The entire evening proved one of the happiest and most enjoyable ever held by the Club and was of a standard appropriate to the jubilee occasion it marked.

Mr David Brown in his address said it had fallen to him to present a picture of the history of the Club over the last 50 years but, as most of the records up to 1939 had been burned, it had been somewhat difficult to re-establish its history. He said he was grateful to a number of people for help in this task and he mentioned two of the main sources as “The Nairnshire Telegraph" and the Royal Caledonian Curling Club

Like Lightning

After explaining that the full story of the Club history had been passed to the Secretary, Mr Brown proceeded to give his hearers a brief outline of the beginnings. He first noted a reference in Dr Kerr's book “The History of Curling" to a Club in Nairn in 1888 which had 32 members but that Club seemed to have faded out.

The next reference he had come across was that of a meeting in Nairn on November 19, 1907, at which approximately 44 people attended, and where a committee was appointed to go into the question of forming a Club. That Committee must have moved like lightning, said Mr Brown, because by Dec. 16, 1907, another meeting was held; a club was formed; a constitution drawn up and members and officials enrolled.The first office-bearers were: Patrons and patronesses—Sir Robt. Finlay (who later became Viscount Finlay of Nairn) and Lady Finlay. President—Mr William Whitelaw (father-in-law of Mrs W. A. Whitelaw, Monkland); secretary — Mr George Squair (who was present at the anniversary dinner that night); Committee —Mr A. Nicol, grocer; Mr Joseph Mackay, Glebe-End; ex-Provost Wm. Dallas, High Street; Mr Ferguson, Beauthorn; Provost Mclntosh; Mr F. A. Fairlie, Beldorny; Mr Whitbread, Druim; Mr James Lamb solicitor.

Their Foresight

Mr Brown went on to explain that by the time of this meeting Sir Robert Finlay had already granted a piece of land on Newton Park for the ponds; a contract had been given to a Mr Fraser, Beauly, for the work (planned by Colonel P. M. Cram), and it was under way—it was stated then that the rinks would be available in a few weeks and curling actually did take place there before the end of that season.

The funds for the entire work were subscribed as debentures by a number of gentlemen and those debentures were fully paid off eventually.

The cost of building the four rinks in 1907 was estimated at £140; club house £40; fencing £15; laying on of water £5. A total of £220. And Mr Brown said that had these founder members not shown considerable foresight in establishing the Club with four rinks at that time it was doubtful if the Club would have ever been able to find the money to do so owing to the disasters of two world wars.

The President went on to say that in May, 1908, in order to raise funds, the Club let the rinks to the Nairn Tennis Club and many good tennis matches followed in summer, tea being served in the Clubhouse.

Coming to 1909, the Canadian curlers were entertained at Nairn and Mr Brown here told several stories involving the Ardclach and Glenferness Clubs, stories which were appreciated by the visitors.

In February 1912 a points game was played at Lodgehill Ponds and the chief trophy was a kettle gifted by Mr William Whitelaw. This trophy called for a minimum of 32 points before it could be won but as this high standard of play was never achieved, the rule was abandoned later on. That same year the Club appointed its first chaplain, the Rev. James Bonallo, Auldearn.

In December 1912 Carsbreck had to be postponed because of a thaw but the Nairn team, which had in­tended taking part, challenged Elgin's “Carsbreck" team to a game at The Glacarium, Aberdeen. The teams travelled by train and Nairn won by 24 points to 11.

The Provincial Bonspiel was played at Blairs Loch in Jan., 1913, and teams from Nairn, Forres, Banff, Huntly, Ballindalloch, Strathspey, Elgin, Ardclach, Glenferness, and elsewhere took part. Glenferness won the gold medallion presented by Robert Park of the Nairn Club. It is recorded that “sober minded men were seen on the ice, roarin', shoutin' and gesticulating" and, Mr Brown suggested, it might even be possible that this was when rock n' roll was invented.

Prime Mover

In January 1914 the Nairn bon-spiel was played at Achnatone and it was recorded that “the Nairn curlers showed great skill with the handle similar to the Canadians." The Clubs taking part were Glenferness, Ardclach, Auldearn, Cawdor and Nairn.

From that stage the Club appeared to be in abeyance during the 1914-18 war but in October 1919 it was resuscitated. Mr Whitelaw was again elected president; the ponds were re-surfaced; Mr Park presented the Rinks Cup — now known as “The Park Cup" in honour of his 24 years as president.

From that time onwards the Club had been full of life and vitality having many colourful presidents and personalities.

It might be invidious to mention names in the short time at his disposal, Mr Brown said, but he could not help but mention a few. There was Wm. Whitelaw, who was the prime mover of the original idea to form a Club; Robert Park, a very generous supporter; Donald Michael, 25 years secretary; David Fraser, a great curler, iceman and sportsman; and two founder members who were still with them today—Mr George Squair and Col. Peter Cram.

Rural Clubs

Mr Brown then asked the company to stand in remembrance of Club members who had fallen in the two great wars, of which he had been able to establish four, though there might be others— Lt. Wm. A. Whitelaw, 3rd Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders; Lt. Robert H. L. Whitelaw, Household Battalion; Lt. J. E. K. Hall, Kevin, South Wales Borderers; Com­mander A. R. Chalmer, R. N.

Mr Brown later touched on the impact made by the rural clubs, with their colourful personalities and native Doric — it ran right through the entire history of the Nairn Club. He recalled some of the battles fought between old David McArthur, Fleenas and Robert Park and told several stories associated with various matches, and he concluded by asking the company to salute the creative genius of their founder members. They were not, he said, “gowks and chiels that burned their heels sitting by the kitchen fire." They were “up and doing" men from whose efforts they now reaped the benefits. He then gave the toast "The Jubilee Year."