Earlston Rugby Football Club in Times Past

Earlston Rugby Club is the focus here in our new  series looking at 

Local Clubs and Societies

Its History
The Club is thought to have been formed in the 1870s by two Yorkshiremen who were installing machinery in the local woollen mill.  

One  of their first games was against Kelso in 1876,   the result being a draw. On 7 March 1879, Earlston played Kelso  in one of the first matches staged under electric floodlights. The Club also played in the first Melrose Sevens  in 1883. 

Earlston Rugby Football Team, 1876

In the early years the Club's pitch was located at the Georgefield Road close to where the school pitches are today. In 1921 the present pitch at the Haugh  was leased from A. Brownlie, Timber Merchants. Two years later the first Clubhouse was erected. 

During the Second World War,  the rugby pitch and clubhouse were requisitioned by the military.  One third of the pitch was dug out and concrete laid to make a "hull down" park for the tanks of the Polish Division stationed in the area,  preparing for D. Day. 

In  1968 the clubhouse was extended  with further major work carried out in 1988

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Earlston Rugby Football Team, 1932 

Press Reports from:   Southern Reporter, 22^nd August  1935

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

At the annual general meeting ol Earlston Rugby Club Mr John Weatherston (president) occupied the chair. The treasurer submitted a financial statement for the past season, which showed a credit balance of £5 7s 1d- The office -bearers elected were : President, Mr John Weatherston; vice-president, Mr R. Geggie;  secretary, Mr D. W. Denham; treasurer, Mr G. D. White; captain, D. D Fleming;       vice-captain, D. W Denham.  Messrs J. L. Turnbull and J. W. Tail, the retiring secretary and treasurer, were cordially thanked for their excellent services to the Club for several years.  Mr John Rutherford, who retired from the Committee, was also thanked for services rendered.

A HANDSOME SILVER CUP

Patrons and friends, including Earlstonians abroad, have generously subscribed a substantial amount to a fund which will enable the Club to purchase a handsome silver cup for competition at their annual September seven-a-side sports. It was decided to name the cup Earlston Rugby Football Challenge Cup, and that it would be competed for on September 7th for the first time.

Press Report From:  Berwickshire News:  2^nd October 1951

MATCH PLAYED SATURDAY 2ND SEPTEMBER 1951: 

EARLSTON 8, KIRKCALDY 6

"Earlston Rugby XV had Kirkcaldy as visitors to Earlston. Earlston attacked early on but Clark, Kirkcaldy full back, brought relief with long kick to touch. L. Wilson, Earlston centre, made a great break through, but knocked-on. McLeod, Kirkcaldy half, sent his threes away but Weatherley, Earlston full back, made a great tackle and prevented a score. Kirkcaldy were awarded a free kick and Hamblin, narrowly missed. After a great run Falconer was crash-tackled near the line.

Earlston continued to press and Clark fielding a long ball was nearing Earlston line when he made an effort to pass J. Cowe, who, however, grassed him. Earlston forwards broke away, ably led by G. Wilson, hooker and captain of the team, from a loose rush R. Bell scored. Reid goaled from an easy position, shortly before the half-time whistle blew.

On resuming, Kirkcaldy attacked and from a scrum the ball went to Hamblin, who raced over to score.  The same player failed to convert.   Earlston defence were under pressure for a time, but L. Wilson and J. Weatherly brought relief with good touch kicking. J. Rutherford, Earlston winger, broke away and was going all out for the line, but Clark tackled him.  Earlston threequarters again attacked, but Clark again averted a score.  Reid, the drop goal opportunist, dropped a lovely goal for Earlston.  Nearing full time Kirkcaldy scored another try through McLeod.  Hamblin failed with the kick from an easy position. 

Result: Earlston. one goal, one dropped goal (8 points); Kirkcaldy, two tries (6 points).

Earlston team was: —J. Weatherly; J. Rutherford, W. Falconer. L. Wilson, and A. Dickinson: E. Reid and M. Whiteford; R. Bell, G. Wilson, J. Cowe, W. Kerr, J. Wilson, W. Sheridan, D. Mundell, and R. McQuillin."

Earlston Rugby Football Team 1960

Earlston Rugby Football Team at Biggar 1984 after winning a League title. 

Sources

• Earlston Rugby Club on Wikipedia
• Earlston Rugby Club on Facebook
• British Newspaper Archive 
• Photographs from Auld Earlston Collection  
  

    Contributors:  James McQuillin and Susan Donaldson of the Auld Earlston Group. 

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Earlston Orchestral Party

Did you know that Earlston once had its own orchestra - 

known as the Earlston Orchestral Party?

"Earlston Clubs and Societies" was the intended theme of our 2020 exhibition - postponed  of course because of the Corona Virus.  Earlston Orchestral Party was  just one of these groups that residents could enjoy in times past.

So here as a taster for hopefully  next year,  when we will be featuring  items on all kinds of local organisations - sporting, social, youth, musical, dramatic, educational etc.  - including  some you may never have heard of.

Earlston Orchestra in Concert, 1898

The earliest reference found in the local press to the Orchestral Party (sometimes called Orchestral Society) was in “The Southern Reporter“: 28th October 1886. The occasion was a concert and dance, organised by Earlston Street Lighting Committee to raise funds to provide winter street lighting in the village. After the concert part of the evening, dancing 

 Southern Reporter:  28th October 1886

Throughout the first half of the 20th century, local newspapers regularly reported on the activities of the orchestra.  Chief conductor was Mr. Samuel Fisher, with Miss May Smith and Miss Betty Kerr taking on the role as deputies.
 
1902 – At the church choir social evening, “The Orchestral Party discoursed excellent music throughout the evening, which was spent in singing, reciting and dancing." "(Berwickshire News: 4th March 1902. 

1903 - The Southern Reporter: 23rd April referred to a presentation of a handsome silver mounted ebony walking stick, suitably inscribed,  made to Mr. Bertie Smith on his moving away from the village. He was 

“made the recipient of a handsome gift from the Earlston Orchestral Society of which he had been a member since its inception and in appreciation of his services as Orchestral Accompanist.”

1906 - The Berwickshire News:  17th July gave a fulsome report on another presentation to a founder member, when Samuel Fisher, conductor,  entertained members of the society to tea, after which   a presentation was made of a silver cake basket  to Miss Ethel S. Younger on the occasion of her forthcoming marriage. Mr Fisher referred to her:

"great musical gifts, zeal and enthusiasm for her studies as a violinist and the valuable support she had always given the orchestra in their public engagements, in which she uniformly acquitted herself with the utmost credit".

 
During the First World War, the Orchestral Party was a regular participant in fund raising concerts, held to provide Christmas gifts to serving soldiers; to assist the War Relief Fund; and for the War Comforts Fund under the banner “Under the Flag of Britain” in a programme of patriotic music, with the plaudits:

“The Earlston Orchestra gained fresh laurels from the high standard of excellence reached by its members”. (Berwickshire News: 7th December 1915)

The 1920s marked a busy time for the orchestra. Events included playing  at Carolside in aid of the Scottish War Memorial Church [at Edinburgh Castle]; at a major two-day Masonic Bazaar;  and at Earlston Horticultural Show where the:
 "The pleasure 

During the decade, other performances were given at a Golf Club gift sale;   a concert at the Earlston Lodge of Good Templars;  a WRI sale of work where the orchestral played "in a tasteful and effective style"; at a lecture on "A Month in Sunny Italy" held at Ercildoune Church Young Men's Club,  and at a Kinderspiel (children's play) to raise money for the  children's excursion fund.

 

A Kinderspiel Concert in Earlston  - undated. 

In the 1930s only two appearances of the orchestra were noted in the local press - in a concert with Earlston Dramatic Society and at a concert in aid of the  church hall renovation. 

Conductor Samuel Fisher died 8th May 1938 aged 75, buried in Earlston Churchyard.

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POSTSCRIPT
An obituary paid tribute to Mr Adam Hewitt as “one of the prime movers and founders, along with the late Mr. Samuel Fisher of Earlston Orchestral Society, now alas!  defunct.” (The Southern Reporter: 29th May 1941).


In the same year, an obituary of Mr David Hogg, a handloom weaver, noted that “he was the last of the original founders of Earlston Orchestral Party among whom he played the double bass for a long period" (The Berwickshire News: 2nd. September 1941). 

But with the death of Samuel Fisher, 

 this once showcase of Earlston musical talent appeared to come to an end. 

SOURCE

British Newspapers 1710-1963 on FindMyPast

Contributor:  Susan Donaldson of the Auld Earlston Group  

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A Holiday, Curling & Bowling make the Earlston Headlines in the 1880's

Reader Richard Smith came across these headlines on Earlston in "The Berwickshire News" of the 1880's.    Old newspapers make fascinating reading for anyone interested in local history, as they  reflect life,  in all its aspect, as it was at the time.   

Read about:

• News,  given at short notice, of the New Year shopkeepers' holiday, 
• Activities of the Curling Club.
• The early days of the Bowling Club and an impressive fund-raising bazaar - among the more unusual items for sale were clerical photographs, a Tom Scott painting, and live poultry.

NEW YEAR HOLIDAY - 20th December 1881.

"The shopkeepers have agreed to hold the New Year Holiday on Saturday December 31st inst., as New Year's Day falls on a Sunday. and Monday is an unsuitable day, being Market Day.  The Volunteers hold their annual ball on the Friday  evening the 30th  and their shooting on the Saturday following"

CURLING  -15th February 1878

"Nearly every day last week the members of the Curling Club enjoyed a game on Mr. Allan's pond at Georgefield. Thursday which was the Fast Day*  was necessarily an off-day,  and it is possible that the keen curlers begrudged letting it slip,   as the day was very favourable for this pastime.  Besides going to Dunse on Friday and beating the Dunse men, the Club played for the Silver Cup presented by Mrs Coteworth  of Cowdenknowes. The ice from the heat of the sun in the middle of the day was very soft,  and great difficulty was felt by some in getting their stone over the hog score.  The cup was won by Mr George Henderson with a score of 7, Mr J. P Smith and Mr. James Sharp  came next with 5 points each.  The weather was rather fresh and it is not unlikely that curling for the season is nearly over."

*Fast Days  were a tradition of the Presbyterian Churches,  whereby a special day was marked as a public holiday,and set aside for  a time of reflection,  ahead of attendance at the service of Holy Communion.   

More than 100 years later,  and members of Earlston Curling Club play out of doors at Lauder,  December 1995.     

BOWLING CLUB - 20th December 1881.

"This club now numbers over 50 members and they have resolved to the formation of a bowling green on the site of the old curling pond. This work is to be done by Mr. Smith, Hawick whose estimate for the work we understand to be £150.  Some farmers interested in the formation of the bowling green will do the  necessary driving of materials gratuitously.  If this bowling club proves a success, Earlston will be amply provided with means of recreation.

An early photograph of Earlston Bowling Club members

                           

 BOWLING CLUB BAZAAR - 16th July 1889
A lengthy article reported  on a Bazaar in the Corn Exchange, held:

"To liquidate a debt.....The club was formed in 1882 and the formation of the Green, together with a recent enlargement,  cost between £300 and £400  of which £80 remained to be paid....An energetic committee, consisting of Mr Dunn, Mr Murdison, Mr. Steedman, Mr Tait, Mr Aitkenhead,  and Mr Wallace (secretary) was formed  to carry out the arrangements;  the ladies of the town and neighbourhood  readily gave their cooperation and the result of their united exertions was the Fancy Fair opened on Wednesday.

There were six stalls  furnished abundantly with the usual cushions, scrapbooks, dolls, paintings,  clerical photographs,  live poultry,  firescreens,  shawls,macrame work etc. etc...... The paintings were a particularly excellent collection and included work by Tom Scott A.R.S.A. There were also some fine etchings.  The drawings over the two days  rather amounted to over £260.  The stalls were distinguished by the names of flowers....... There was also a refreshment stall and a flower stall  attended to by Mr. Gray,   gardener, Gladswood and Mr. Robertson,gardener, Cowdenknowes."

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Have you come across an interesting story or item from the past 
that can be shared with others on our blog?  We would  like to hear from you. 
 Please contact us at:     auldearlston@aol.com 

THANK YOU  

Earlston's Sporting Life

 A nostalgic look back at sporting activities in Earlston from the early 1900's.

RUGBY 

Earlston Rugby Club Club is thought to have been formed in the 1870s by two Yorkshiremen who were installing machinery in the local woollen mill.One  of their first games was against Kelso in 1876,   the result being a draw. On 7 March 1879, Earlston played Kelso  in one of the first matches staged under electric floodlights. The Club also played in the first Melrose Sevens  in 1883. 

In the early years the Club's pitch was located at the Georgefield Road close to where the school pitches are today. In 1921 the present pitch at the Haugh  was leased from A. Brownlie, Timber Merchants. Two years later the first Clubhouse was erected. 

During the Second World War,  the rugby pitch and clubhouse were requisitioned by the military.  One third of the pitch was dug out and concrete laid to make a "hull down" park for the tanks of the Polish Division stationed in the area,  preparing for D. Day. 

In 1968 the clubhouse was extended  with further major work carried out in 1988.

    Earlston Rugby Team, 1911-1912 

   Earlston Rugby Team, 1960

BOWLING

 

  An early photograph of Earlston Bowling Team success at a tournament in Selkirk 

 

 Earlston Bowling Club - but can anyone help date this photograph?

[UPDATE - We were pleased  to receive the following information from a reader:

I would say the photograph dates from the mid 1930's.  This was Mr & Mrs Stafford's golden wedding - they lived at The Terrace on the High Street.  The event was held in the Girls Club Building  on  Melrose Road,  where the filling station forecourt is now. The Club was used for many social occasions and I see The Rev  Peter Wylie (Ercildoune Church Minster) and Mrs Wylie and I recognize quite a few others].

 
Earlston Bowling Club Social, 1975

CRICKET

 
Earlston Rhymers Cricket Club, 1908

HARRIERS

 

FOOTBALL

Earlston Rhymers Football Team, 1903-4

 
Earlston Rhymers, 1973 

GOLF

Earlston Golf Club was founded in  August 1906, making it one of the oldest in the country. The course  was designed by Willie Park of Musselburgh on land owned by Lord Binning . The nine-hole course was situated in an area known locally as “Caldies Hill” on high ground with sandy soil. At the time of its opening,  it was stated that "there were some rough and stony parts but the course was gradually improving".

First Earlston Golf Club Gymkhana  in 1908 

The Course was closed during the First World War and was ploughed up to plant crops for food  to aid the war effort.  Play was further suspended during the duration of the Second World War.  Afterwards, however,   the Club, due to lack of funds, could not afford to maintain the course.    It was subsequently used as a motorcycle scrambling circuit. There were hopes that the golf course could be resurrected but unfortunately this never materialized. 

But Earlston Golf Club survived and continued to have outings and competitions to various other courses in the country.   In 2000, 91 years after its start, it launched a new initiative to create the first golf course on the moon!  Read more HERE.  

 SCRAMBLING AT HUNTSHAW

 

CURLING 

The story of curling in Earlston or as it was then known, Erciltoun,  began before 1756. A century later reports of curling in the village appeared in the local press, with the first pond at Georgefield.   In 1907 the Club built an artificial three rink pond “to cost £100 or thereabout, with a house for the storage of stones, etc in addition” on land granted by Lord Binning.   With Haymarket Ice Rink, Edinburgh opening in 1912,  Earlston curlers started indoor curling for the first time.  In 1964 the Border Ice Rink at Kelso  was launched  and this has been the venue for the club to the present day.

 
Members of the Earlston Curling Club playing outdoors at Lauder, December 1995.

And finally - SPECTATING

 1953 Sports at the Haugh. 

Thank you to everyone who has donated or loaned old photographs for scanning.

Auld Earlston welcomes all contributions on the village's past. 

Contact us on auldearlston@aol.com