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History of Kinross Curling Club
Kinross Curling Club is within Lochleven province. Being in a farming area, the club originally had a strong farming membership. Nowadays the members have many different backgrounds and ages - from their early 20s to late retirement! Regardless of age and background, the curling within the club is of a friendly but very competitive nature. It is also of a very high standard!
Kinross Curling Club is believed to be one of the oldest, if not the oldest club in the world. The Kinross Club played a very important role during the formation of the 'Grand Club' - later to become the RCCC. Details of the exact role played by the club and some of its members at the time, are detailed in John Kerr's book published over 110 years ago. Extracts from this book are printed below.
Extracts from ‘History of Curling’
- by John Kerr published 1890
Ancient Curling Societies
In the case of Lochleven, the members of the Kinross Club, as faithful Guardians
of its curling fame, after a careful inquiry by Sheriff Skelton and a committee
in 1818, decided to carry the existence of a curling society there as far back
as 1668. That there was curling on Lochleven long before that need not be
doubted, and that the Kinross Club deserves highest honour for the careful
preservation of the traditional mysteries of the game will be apparent when
these come to be considered; but the want of written records prior to the year
1818 leaves us, as in the case of Linlithgow, without that information as to the
early game on Lochleven, which would here have been of the greatest interest.
The Transition Period
In the small and compact county of KINROSS we have two most efficient clubs,
both with interesting records, to guide us in tracing the history of curling and
finding out the nature of its secrets. Kinross Club was the creation of an
awakened conscience among the Lochleven curlers of the time, who felt that they
had not been doing their duty toward their ancient and valuable inheritance.
Since it was started in 1818 it has, under faithful rulers from the time of
Sheriff Skelton to that of Mr. Burns Begg, its present enthusiastic president,
made its influence felt in the curling world, and done much to uphold the best
traditions of the national game. In its minute-book in " pristine purity " the
sacred Eleusinian mysteries of the Curling Court are carefully guarded by the
warning voice, " Procul, oh procul este profani ! " and much that is interesting
and valuable about the curling of the past is there treasured up.
A fine type of the keen Kinross curler of this period was John Wright
Williamson, writer and banker, who, from the time he settled at Kinross in 1818
till the day of his death,' never ceased to take an interest in the Kinross
Club, and in all that concerned the game. It was the delight of his life to
curl, and among the lochleven band there was no better player.
The formation of the Grand Club
The resolution by which the Grand Club was formally instituted was proposed by
Dr Renton, and agreed to with the utmost heartiness and enthusiasm:-
"That this meeting do form itself into a club, composed of the different
initiated clubs of Scotland, under the name of the 'Grand Caledonian Curling
Club."'
Dr Cairnie was then, as a matter of course, elected first president of the club;
Mr James Skelton,W. S., a " brother " of the Kinross Court, was chosen to be
honorary secretary and treasurer; while John M'George and James Ogilvie
Dalgleish were made vice-presidents.
From his throne of office the famous old curler of the West gave a short but
comprehensive address, eulogising the ancient and national game. Cairnie also
explained the system of artificial pond-making with which his name was
connected, and the meeting had placed before them some specimens of improved
curling-stones, alongside of which was exhibited a kuting-stone which had been
fished out of Lochleven. The day of its institution, 25th July 1838, was indeed
a miniature of the history of the club. Even the social side of the club
meetings was duly observed by a dinner, at which Mr Ogilvie Dalgleish presided,
his admirable conduct in the chair contributing not a little to the hilarity of
the evening. The Court was constituted in due form by a member of the Kinross
deputation, according to the most ancient usage, and afforded to those who were
not acquainted with that ceremony great interest and amusement. With due
observance of all the best traditions of the game, and with a clear
understanding of what was required to make it a national institution worthy of
the support of future generations of curlers, the Grand Club was thus
successfully started on its journey.
Minutes from the Grand Club
At a later meeting, November 16, 1838, the same deputation reports:-
“That the word of the Kinross Court might be said to form the basis of the one
now adopted by the Grand Club, some small additions from those of certain other
clubs being made to it ; a grip was also agreed on identical with that used at
Kinross, -with one slight addition.”
It appears that the “ancient mysteries” had from time immemorial been carefully
observed at the, old county town of Kinross. Other clubs were in the habit of
repairing thither to receive in their “pristine purity " the word and the
grip.
When the Grand Club was formed the Kinross brethren gladly communicated these to
the committee to assist them in drafting the constitution.
At the formation of the club J. W. Williamson of Kinross, to whose good work as
a curler we have already referred, is said to have initiated upwards of
thirty-six individuals from different clubs. Mr Williamson was for a long time
the high priest of the temple of curling mysteries, presiding over the solemn
ceremonies of " the dark passage " in such pomp and pride as became his office.
No traveller returned from the mysterious bourne to tell his experience-the lips
of the initiated were sealed. Cave canem was all that was said to trembling
candidates. From which, and from certain shrieks that now and then reached the
uninitiated outer world, it was generally supposed that the master only gave the
word when Cerberus immediately gave the grip, which transformed the calf of a
common mortal into that of a keen, keen, keen curler. The committee which
prepared the constitution of the Grand Club gave a laudable reason for adopting
a word and grip. The club was "intended to unite the whole kingdom into one
brotherhood of the rink," and a form of initiation was accordingly designed
"To enable members to recognise each other as such, although personally unknown,
and thereby to ensure them, when visiting distant clubs, a participation in
their game, which, owing to the numbers who resort to the ice (particularly near
large towns), it would be impossible to extend to strangers indiscriminately."
This the committee distinctly stated was " the only purpose " they had in view.
They seem to have felt that their action required some apology. They disowned
the spirit of exclusiveness, and did not commit themselves to the approval of
many uses to which "initiation " bad been or might be put. In so far as the
representative meeting of the Royal Club has been concerned, the law as at first
laid down has been faithfully obeyed. New clubs on' their affiliation have had
the "mysteries " communicated to them. It is otherwise with the majority of our
affiliated clubs. The law is virtually set aside. Many members object
altogether to the shibboleth of initiation, and the tendency seems to be to
neglect " the mysteries " altogether. Indications of this tendency are
distinctly visible in the history of the Royal Club. In the year 1850 an
additional " mystery " was invented. This was a curling uniform, in which the
bodies of the " initiated" were to be enswathed and distinguished from the
vulgar crowd. It was to consist of " coat, vest, and trousers of one pattern
and quality, the groundwork of the cloth to be as nearly as possible of a
granite colour, checked with blue and green bars, the blue being the royal
colour, and the green emblematic of the, broom." For this CC mystery " curlers
were to pay Mr John Piper-who was appointed clothier to the Royal Club-4s. 6d. a
yard, and for making up-coat, 14s.; vest, 6s. 6d.; trousers, 4s. 6d. ; while "
the very buttons " were to be paid for at 5s. 6d. per set for the coat, and Is.
6d. for the vest. But it would not do. Mr John Piper and the club uniform very
soon had to disappear from the scene
By the original rule " none but initiated curlers were allowed to be present at
the business or the convivial meetings of the Royal Club." This was found to
interfere with the development of sociality, and a relaxation of the rule had to
be made by the addition of the words while curling ceremonies or mysteries are
being practised. To enforce a stricter observance of the law of initiation, a
representative member at the annual meeting in 1883 moved:--
"That no names be printed in the Annual but those of initiated curlers."
THE CURLING COURT
In addition to the ceremony of initiation, some of the ancient curling
societies, after the usual dinner of beef and greens, were accustomed to hold
what was called a curling court. Sir Richard Broun, in his Memorabilia (p.
67), gives a brief account of this court, which be describes as " a sort of game
of high jinks, or mock heroic tribunal," but we are not aware that it was
customary to hold it in the south of Scotland. The author of the Kilmarnock
Treatise speaks of the court as " a curious old custom in Perthshire," from
which we infer that it was not common in the west of Scotland. It is to Kinross
that we are again indebted for the preservation of this “mystery” in its most
complete form. In view of the formation of the Grand Club, the curlers of
Kinross drew up a description of the court as it had been handed down orally
front generation to generation, and transmitted this by the hands of their
delegates to the meeting. With the ceremony of initiation the Grand Club did
not associate the more elaborate ceremony of the court, as was the custom at
Kinross, but left it to clubs to " communicate the mysteries " in their own way.
The Grand Club, however, awarded the custom a certificate of antiquity. It
“had been held for upwards of 200 years.” Clubs might wish to revive it. The
Kinross Court, with a few slight alterations, was therefore entered in the club
minute-book, and copies printed for the use, of such clubs as, applied for them.
At the dinner after the first meeting of the Grand Club a court was held, which
was fenced " in auld style " by J. W. Williamson, to the great satisfaction of
all present."
KINROSS CURLING COURT
"The first requisite is to elect a President, termed 'My Lord ;' he is usually
the Proeses of the club for the time, but any other brother may be chosen. 'My
Lord, 'on taking the chair, immediately appoints one of the brethren present to
be his officer, whom he directs to fence the court. This is done as follows:-
" A pewter stoup, varying from a mutchkin to a pint (Scottish measure) is
procured, which the officer presents to 'My Lord;' and he, in order to make a
noise, drops therein some silver, or a few pence, according to his pleasure.
'The officer, after rattling the money in the stoup three times, and repeating
alternately with each shake, 'Oyez,' oyez,' ‘oyez,' fences the court thus :-
"'I defend and I forbid, in Her (or His) Majesty’s name and authority of :My
Lord' presently in the chair- (I) that there shall be no legs oer‘em ; (2) no
hands a-bosy, or accross (3) no supports on your neighbour's chair, or on the
table, (4) no private committees ; (5) no rising up, or sitting down, or going
to the door, without leave asked and granted by 'My Lord;' (6) no touching the
cup or glass but with the curler's right hand, which is understood to be every
ordinary man's left ; (7) every man his name and surname ; (8) every breach of
these articles a halfpenny, and every oath a penny.
The officer then points out and gives in an audible voice the name and surname
of every' brother present, commencing on 'My Lord's' left hand, and going
regularly round the whole company, thus: 'A. B. is A.B.; C.D. is C.D.; E.F. is
E.F.; (and on coming to 'My Lord'), 'My Lord's ' My Lord,' and I am his
officer-both absolute. God save the Queen (or King)' The officer usually
stands opposite to the person named, at the other side of the table, when this
can be conveniently done.
" If any individuals are ' present not yet brethren, as is the case with those
to be. initiated that evening, the officer passes over them, and these are not
subject to the fines and regulations of the court till after initiation.
“ The proceedings of the court then go on ; and it is the special duty of the
officer, who remains on his feet rattling the stoup occasionally, to observe and
detect all breaches of the regulations, and to collect the fines in the stoup,
rattling it at the ear of the offender till the fine is paid.
" The decision of 'My Lord,' and, through him, of his officer in fining, is
perfectly absolute, and must be obeyed. Any one member has a right to report
the breaches of another to 'My Lord,' or his officer; but if the person
complained against conceives himself aggrieved by the report he may protest and
appeal, which is done by depositing a penny on the table, to be forfeited to the
stoup in case of being decided against, which generally happens when an appeal
is made. My Lord very shortly hears the protester, and gives an absolute
decision.
"When candidates for the brotherhood are present, 'My Lord' (after the court has
sat a reasonable time) directs the business of initiation to proceed.
" The candidate thereupon respectfully approaches 'My Lord, 'with a curler's
besom in his hand, holding it over his right shoulder, and craves to be admitted
a member of the honorable court and club. 'My Lord now appoints one of the
brethren to give him the 'word' and 'grip,' and two others (one or both of whom
must be masters of the whole secrets), to be reporters as to whether these have
been given correctly. The three then conduct the candidate to an adjoining
room, which has been previously prepared for the purpose, and after a careful
examination that no intruders are present, and shutting the door, the initiation
commences by the person appointed by 'My Lord' first giving the 'word' and then
the 'grip.' If the reporters find that he is unable to give these correctly,
they return with him to the court, and report him to 'My Lord' as deficient, who
immediately appoints some other to the office. The same proceeding is repeated,
and appointments made, till a brother is found sufficiently qualified,
"My Lord' often fixes at first on some one to give the secrets whom he suspects
to be deficient; and all who fail in this duty are fined, before the close of
the court, at the option of the company a pennv or twopence, or threepence.
When a brother is so appointed, he may decline, and come under the mercy of the
court, by saying, 'I submit;' but he is generally fined in a larger sum than
those who make the attempt, but fail.
The reporters, after the candidate receives the secrets, introduce him to 'My
Lord' in court, as ‘brother of the broom, and a keen, keen, keen curler.' He
then goes forward to 'My Lord,' and holding his hand under the table, out of
view, gives 'My Lord' the grip ; after which he goes to the brother on 'My
Lord's' left, and holding his hand also below the table, requests that member to
give him the 'grip.' The newly admitted member must on no account give the grip
to any one except 'My Lord,' but himself receive it ; and if the brother,
through inattention or otherwise, does not give it to him correctly, he notes
the circumstance, and when he has gone round the company in this way (or until
'My Lord' says be may stop), he reports to 'My Lord' all those who were
deficient, and they are fined at the discretion of 'My Lord.'
When there are more candidates than one, the same proceedings take place with
each separately. The court is then fenced anew by the officer, the names of the
anew brothers being of course included.
During the sitting of the court 'My Lord' says, 'I give a toast not to be
repeated.;' and he immediately proposes one, of which be and the other officer
keep note, and generally -write down for accuracy. Any member who repeats the
toast before being specially requested to do so is immediately fined - a
halfpenny to the stoup. Sometime afterwards, and when the toast may be supposed
to be forgotten by many, 'My Lord' directs the officer to go round the company
and ask each individually what it was: each must whisper it to the officer, so
that the person next him cannot hear: if he fail to mention the toast to the
very letter, the officer rattles the stoup at his ear, as an intimation that he
has failed, and proceeds to the next person, and so on. When he has gone round
the whole, he reports to 'My Lord' those who failed, and his lordship directs a
fine to be levied from each-generally one penny. Any person conceiving himself
aggrieved may protest and appeal in the manner already mentioned.
When 'My Lord' thinks that the court has continued a sufficient length of time
(usually from half-an-hour to an hour), he directs the officer to 'roup the
stoup,' which is done by him in the character of an auctioneer, descanting all
the time on the great weight and value of the stoup : offers are made for the
contents in the way of ,in ordinary auction or roup ; and after it is knocked
down to the highest bidder, trifling bets are sometimes taken as to whether the
purchaser has gained or lost, two reporters being appointed to count the
proceeds in another room. While the reporters are absent for this purpose, the
court goes on, another stoup being used ; and any fines collected during that
time, and also during the roup of the stoup, are added to the original amount
and belong to the purchaser. 'My Lord' then declares the court closed.
“ The purchase money is either applied towards defraying the expense of the
social glass, or added to the club funds, according to the general regulations
of the club.
"It is obvious that, as one brother is required for 'My Lord,' another for the
officer, and three to ' perform the ceremony of initiation, the court cannot
well proceed unless seven be present, and this only provides for two sitting in
court during the absence of the initiators but there is little amusement if
there be not from fifteen to twenty in company."
Another set of rules for the ciirliiig court, as practised throughout
Strathallan, from Auchterarder to Stirling and Donne, is said to have been in
writing as far back as 1711. Dr Walker Arnott had a copy inserted in the
minutes of Orwell Club, where it is stated that
" These rules had been introduced into the district by Lord Strathallan previous
to the first rebellion, but it is not known whether he obtained them from among
his ancestors' papers or introduced them from other districts; the current
belief is that he received the copy from some of the Scotch then in Paris."
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