Earlston & Border Counties Motor Cycle and Car Club.

Earlston  and  Border Counties Motor Cycle and Car Club is the latest organisation to be featured  in our  series on local clubs and societies - past and present. 

 Douglas Forbes  no. 20  - August 2007

INTRODUCTION

The club was formed in 1955 and quickly grew in popularity   with one newspaper citing as many as 800 spectators  to races held on the old golf course at Huntshaw. 

The reports below give a flavour of the club's activities. 

NEW CLUB FOR EARLSTON - Berwickshire News: 4^th January 1955

"In the Masonic Hall, Earlston, a well attended public meeting took place in connection with the formation of a Motor Cycle and Car Club. Mr Jas.Waite introduced Mr Rodger Fish, Kelso, a past grass track and motor cycle enthusiast, who presided. Mr Fish very briefly gave the outline of the formation of such a club and dealt with his own past experiences being a member of other clubs. 

After some discussion the name of the Club was unanimously passed and will be known as “The Earlston and  Border Counties Motor Cycle and Car Club.” The following officials were elected:- President. Mr Rodger Fish (Kelso); chairman, Mr Jas. Waite (Earlston); hon. secretary and treasurer, Mr Wm. Kerr; committee: Mr Oliver (Denholm), Mr Sanderson (Earlston), Mr D. Waite (Earlston).

At a later date other members will be co-opted to the committee. The annual subscription was fixed at 10s per year. 

The first activity of the Club will be the showing of a motor cycle and car racing film, embracing all the world’s best championship drivers, etc. This will take place in Earlston School on January 4th."

EARLSTON NEWS - Berwickshire News:  1^st March 1955.

"The Earlston and Border Counties Motor Cycle and Car Club held a film show in Earlston Junior Secondary School. The show was held for the members of the Club and their friends and was well attended. The films depicted various  scenes of Motor Cycle and Car Scramblers on the Yorkshire Moors, the special feature films being the 1950 Grand Prix and the 1950 T.T. Motor Cycle Race."

GARBAGE HUNT AT EARLSTON - Berwickshire News:  31^st May 1955

"Members of the Earlston and Border Counties’ Motor Cycle and Car Club held a Garbage Hunt. All competitors collected the required articles in the specified time. In order to eliminate the ties a test was made for the slowest driver between two points of 100 yards apart. A further tie resulted so a second test took place in the form of parking a car six inches or nearest to that distance from the kerb. The ultimate winner was Mr Alex. Blackie with passenger, Mr John Brotherston. Second were Mr John Blair and passenger F. Brown. The Garbage Hunt was attended by a fair number of competitors and greatly enjoyed."

MOTOR CYCLE RACE AT EARLSTON - Berwickshire News:  6^th September 1955 

"Earlston and Border Counties Motor Cycle and Car Club held an open Moto-Cross-Motor Cycle Race meeting on the old Earlston Golf course, by kind permission of Mr Jas. Oliver, Huntshaw. The event attracted about 500 spectators. At the close, Mr Jas. Waite introduced Mrs Oliver, who presented the prizes. Thereafter Mr Waite proposed the votes of thanks.

Officials of the meeting were; Judge; Mr Robert Wilson; starter Mr James Waite; hon. medical officer,Mr Hamilton; lap scorer, Mr J. Forrest; commentator, Mr Rodger Fish; clerk of the course, Mr J. Yallop; joint secretary and treasurer, Mr T. Maney and Mr W. A. J. Kerr. 

The result of event No. 1 for motor cycles up to 200 c.c.: W. Landells, Edinburgh; M. Frazer, Edinburgh; D. Gray, Glendale. Event No. 2  for motor cycles up to 350 c.c.; W. Edwards. Dumfries; C. M. Tasker; P. Hendrie, Edinburgh. Event No. 3 for cycles up to 500 c.c; W. Edwards, Dumfries; C. Allan, Midlothian; P. Hendrie, Edinburgh. Event No. 4: W. Landells. Edinburgh; D. Gray, Glendale; W. Edwards, Dumfries. Event No. 5 non-winners up to 200 c.c: G. Williamson, Edinburgh J. Jeffrey; D. B. Smart. Event No. 6 non-winners up to 350 c.c: E. Tasker; J. Gray, Earlston; J. Jeffrey. Event No. 7 was the principal race, an open all-in massed start event of 15 laps. This race caused the greatest excitement of the afternoon. The ultimate result was: W. Edwards, Dumfries; C. Allan, Midlothian; P. Hendrie, Edinburgh."

EXCITING RACES AT EARLSTON - Berwickshire News:  17^th April 1956

There were approximately 800 spectators at an open race meeting organised by Earlston and Border Counties’ Motor Cycle and Car Club on Earlston golf course on Sunday last, by kind permission of Mr Jas. Oliver, Huntshaw. Officials on duty were: S.A.C.U. steward, Mr T. Dobie; judge, Mr Geo. Mack; starter, Mr Jas. Waite; hon. medical officer. Dr Sinclair; lap scorer, Mr R. Wilson; commentator, Mr T. McLeod; clerk of the course, Mr J. Yallop; pit marshal, Mr J. Brotherston; secretary and treasurer, Mr A. W. Kerr.

An accident occurred during practice preceding the race meeting, when F. Murray, Edinburgh Southern, came to grief at one of the corners and broke his leg, which necessitated his removal to Peel Hospital. 

The entry of 66 competitors included R. G. Scott and I. Bell, Scottish champions. The first event, run in two heats, was more or less a procession to the final. The race from a spectator’s point of view was uninteresting and the winner was: J. Hutchings, Edinburgh Southern; L. More, Corstorphine and District; M. Fraser, Edinburgh Southern."

 Drew Taylor and John  Brotherston

 Billy Kerr

PREMISES - Berwickshire News: 17^th December 1956 announced that "Earlston and Border Counties Motor Cycle and Car Club have acquired premises in Station Road."

SIDE CAR RACING  - Berwick Advertiser, September 12^th 1957

"What is going to be a novel innovation sponsored by Earlston and Border Counties Motor Cycle and Car Club, is side-car racing. The event will be staged on Sunday, September 22. Riders are coming from Newcastle and district, where side car racing has a big following."


1959 MEMBERSHIP CARD - contributed by a blog reader. 

 

CANCELLATION OF SCRAMBLE AT EARLSTON - West Lothian Courier: August 16^th 1968

"Due to the cancellation of the Earlston Club's Championship Scramble. The Scottish Auto Cycle Union (the governing body of Scottish motorcycle sport) have allocated the final leg of the Scottish Scrambles Championship to the Melville Motor Club for their scramble at Avonbank Farm, Polmont, on 29th September. A fast and exciting course and top scrambles stars from Scotland and England should ensure that the usual high standard of keen racing at Melville Club scrambles will be maintained. Now with the added attraction of the races deciding the 1968 championship, a good crowd is expected. Practicing starts at 12.30 and the racing at 2 p.m."

Since 1968, no mention of the club has been traced in the local press.  However, some 40 years later, in August 2007 a meeting was held at Huntshaw, run by the Scottish Classic Scrambles Club.  

But Earlston  and  Border Counties Motor Cycle and Car Club,  once such a  feature on the local  sporting scene,  had come to an end. 

Steven Riddell, no. 41 - August 2007

 Jock McCrink no. 56, and Tom Forsyth  no. 73 - August 2007.

Sources: 

• British Newspaper Archive
• Auld Earlston Photograph Collection
  

Contributed by James McQuillin of the Auld Earlston Group. 

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Earlston Mothers' Union - A Forgotten Group

Earlston Mothers' Union  is the focus here in our new  series looking at  Local Clubs and Societies.  But today, it is a group we rarely hear about. Yet   In the 1920s and 30s,  it was a popular organisation with over 100 members in Earlston.  Past newspapers remain  the main,  if not the only source  of information.

What is the Mothers' Union? 
The Mothers' Union today  is a movement of over 4 million Christians in 84 countries worldwide.  Members work as volunteers in communities, putting their faith into action.  

The movement was started in 1876 by Mary Sumner, the wife of an English  vicar  to support mothers as they brought up their children in the Christian faith. It was formally set up in 1876 and rapidly grew as Mary, at a time when women did not usually speak at large gatherings,   promoted the aims of the organisation nationwide.

From 1900 onwards, Mary Sumner and the members started to advocate on issues of key importance to families and children – she campaigned to stop children collecting alcohol from public houses for their families, and for the age of marriage for girls to be raised from 12 to 16. She was not afraid to speak up on difficult issues, despite resistance from members of the establishment.  By 1909 the Mothers’ Union became  the largest voluntary women’s organisation in Britain. The death of Mary Sumner in 1921 saw 4000 women attending her funeral.

Mothers' Union in Earlston

Badges of the  Scottish Mothers' Union

1924 saw the inaugural meeting of the Mothers' Union in Earlston, as noted in "The Southern Reporter:  27th March 1924, when 40 members were enrolled. 

 

In common with many other organisations of the time, the local “gentry” were to the fore in the inauguration and management, especially in the provision of facilities for events. 

The membership soon grew and a Southern Reporter of  9th September 1925 noted that the "membership now exceeded 100".


Monthly Meetings  
Meetings,  were held, usually involving  a prayer, singing, recitations and refreshments.  On occasions lectures on a range of subjects were given, sometimes featuring a “lantern show with lime-light views”.

In the 1920s and 1930s,  talk were given on a range of  topics including: 

• Flora Macdonald and Bonnie Prince Charlie.
• A competition on "Searching  the Scriptures". 
• Craft demonstrations.
• The Works of J.M. Barrie. author of "Peter Pan".
• The Upbringing of Children in the  Home.  
• Mrs Sharpe of The Park entertained the audience with her private cinema. 
• A "racy and most practical"   address given by Mrs Scott,  wife of the Master of Polworth, Harden House, Roberton on  "The story of the Mothers'Union meetings among the natives of  South Africa.,,,,, a very happy and successful gathering with  hearty cheers given to the speaker."     [You do wonder what was "racy" about the talk - or did the word have a different meaning then? ] 

Outings in "the luxurious buses of  Scottish Motor Traction Co."  were made to houses and gardens, including  Harden House, Roberton and Lennoxlove, Haddington. Christmas and New Year Parties were held at the Girls’ Club Hut with  "a long and varied programme of entertainment".


The Southern Reporter: 9th August 1928  featured an article describing   a Sale of Work and Garden Fete, held at Chapel-on-Leader, in aid of the Edinburgh Crippled Children's Hospital.  The event was opened by  Lady Edith Trotter who was the President of the Berwickshire branch of the Mothers’ Union. She spoke of the sterling work done by the Hospital and was accorded a hearty vote of thanks, as were Mr and Mrs David Colville, host and hostess for the use of their residence.

“As well as the stalls, there were golf, tennis and other amusements and performances from the Earlston Orchestral Party under the leadership of Samuel Fisher. They played a pleasing selection of music and accompanied several costume dances,  gracefully executed by Jessie and Catherine Cockburn.

For a nominal sum patrons could also visit the gardens and greenhouses and partake of an excellent tea in the garage. At the close of the proceedings it was ascertained that the gratifying sum of £47 had been realised.”

Change of Name  
In 1936, the Earlston branch of the Mothers' Union changed its name to the Earlston League of Wives and Mothers, but continued under the patronage of Mrs Ferguson, Carolside and Mrs Colville, Chapel-on-Leader, assisted by Mrs Brownlie, Haughhead.  The Southern Reporter of October15th 1936   included an item  on a meeting at which Mrs Ferguson explained the reason for the change.  Frustratingly the newspaper report did not go onto elaborate what these were.

No information has been traced on the reason for the  change, but it marked the end of the  Mothers' Union in the village,   after just 12 years of providing women  with an outlet for activities outside the home. 

Mrs Ferguson, a sterling figure in so many of Earlston's organisations  died in August  1937. 

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Postscript
The League continued  its programme on very much the same pattern as the Mothers Union, opening it meetings with a prayer and hymn, welcoming speakers on such topics as "Love in the  Home" and outings to North Berwick  and Edinburgh where the members attended a service in St. Giles' Cathedral.


The last reference found on the League was in the Berwickshire News of 2nd June 1946 with  a brief note that the League had given a £16 donation to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary   It is thought that the League of Wives and Mothers later became the Young Wives' and Mothers' Group and later the Young Wives' Group - both active well into the 1980s, with the Women's Group still welcoming members today and providing a regular  programme of talks, demonstration and outings. 

Fulfilling similar activities,  though not church based,  is the Scottish Women's Institute (formerly "The Rural") which was established in Earlston in 1937,  as reported in The  Berwickshire News of  4th May that year, with Miss Vera Davidson elected President. By the time of its first birthday it had 95 members.

The Scottish  Mothers' Union continued until its dissolution in 1983 when the remaining active branches affiliated with their English counterpart. 

Sources:

• British Newspaper Archive
• Findmypast - British Newspapers Online  
• Mothers' Union  
• Scottish Mothers' Union  

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Contributors:  Susan Donaldson and Richard Smith of  the Auld Earlston Group