Kinross Curling Club is considered to be one of the oldest, if not the oldest club in the world. Club records refer to curling on the loch and surrounding waterlogged fields from 1668. The Kinross Club also played a very important role during the formation of the ‘Grand Club’ – later to become the Royal Caledonian Curling Club. 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 125 years ago.
The following extracts are taken 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.
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.”