History was repeating itself last night as members of Lochaber Curling Club celebrated in the venue where the club first met 150 years ago.
They wore Victorian costume to raise a glass to founder members who met in the lounge of the Caledonian Hotel, Cameron Square, Fort William on January 28 1870.
At that time the local sheriff, Sheriff Fraser, and six other members of the community met to agree that a club be formed, under the name Lochaber Curling Club. Lochiel, MP, was elected patron and Mrs Cameron Campbell of Monzie the patroness.
Last night, exactly 150 years to the hour at 7pm, current members of the club met in reception office of McIntyre and Co, which was the Caledonian Hotel back in the day.
Gerald McIntyre, member, said: “Lochaber Curling Club is not the oldest established curling club in Scotland, but it is one of the oldest continuous clubs, having met and played and held AGMs throughout all of its history, including the two world wards.”
All of the minutes, leather bound in three volumes, are held by the club. Last night, Dr Chris Robinson, the club’s historian, read the inaugural minutes to the assembled members.
For the first 100 years or so, the sport was played outdoors and so was completely weather dependent. When the ice came, a notice was hung on the railings of the now demolished Kennedy Monument in Cameron Square announcing “Curling in Glen Nevis tonight.”
The curling rinks in Glen Nevis are still used by the club for fun events, but all serious curling takes part in indoor rinks, with LCC travelling down to Greenacres Ice Rink at Howwood on Saturdays throughout the season.
The club continues to flourish but new members are always welcome and can join by contacting any of the current members.
