Archive for the ‘Club History’ Category
30th Anniversary
Hugh Wilson with his 1974 committee
I would like to briefly recall the events of the 30th anniversary in 1974-75 when I had the honour of being president of the club. I also had the misfortune of being in the chair when we had to relocate from Barrmill to Beith. In short, the owner of the Barrmill Inn was simply not interested in hosting the club. This came to a head during a visit to finalise details for the St Andrew’s Dinner when he advised us that it simply could not go ahead. Needless to say there was panic from yours truly. However, after a couple of phone calls we gratefully accepted the use of the facilities at Beith Masonic Hall.
Our very first St. Andrew’s Celebration took place in Beith on 29 November 1974 and it was very successful. The principal speaker was Cronies R W Paterson, headmaster of Beith Academy, a very enthusiastic member of the Jolly Beggars. The singers were club stalwarts Harry Young and David Millar with readings by Hugh Wilson (Sen) and R W Paterson. The reply to the orator was delivered by Hunter Dewar. The vote of thanks to the artistes was given in his usual masterful fashion by Cronie N M Henderson. After the formal part of the evening was brought to a close, the inimitable S C Jamieson led off the harmony with his usual rendering of Westering Home.
Our first Burns Supper away from Barrmill was held in the Masonic Hall on 24 January 1975, and was well attended by a large company. The ticket was priced £3. The principal toast to the Immortal Memory was proposed by W J Smith. Readings were given by R W Paterson (To A Mouse); James Peat (The Haggis); John Jamieson (To A Louse); R W Paterson and John Jamieson (The Twa Dugs). The usual intrepid club singers were in very good voice. Willie Conn and R W Paterson sang Catrine Woods and they were supported by regulars, Harry Young, Bill Gemmill and David Millar. Millar, Young and Gemmill were at their very best with Willie Brewed a Peck O Malt. The Toast to the Lassies was proposed in his usual humorous style by S C Jamieson and the vote of thanks to artistes and speakers was given by Hunter Dewar. All in all an excellent first Burns Supper in Beith.
The committee wisely decided that the club should stay in Beith, helped by the fact that only one Barrmill resident was still a member. Most Cronies by this time lived in Beith. On moving to Beith the club lost a portrait of the Bard and a very large collage of pictures of scenes from the works of the Bard. Our first attempt to retrieve these items ended when we were told they were on the inventory of the hotel and must remain. A return visit two days later proved fruitless and the items had allegedly gone missing!
The second St. Andrew’s Celebration night held in Beith took place in a new function room upstairs in the Caledonian Inn. Hunter Dewar was now president and his first problem was that the Caley did not have a piano. The bowling club very kindly offered to lend us a piano. On the morning of the function, Willie Conn with his borrowed works van met half a dozen of the younger Cronies who managed to get the very heavy piano into the van and transported it to the Caley.
With the piano by now on the pavement it was quickly discovered that it was too large to go up the stairs. Those of you who remember the old Caley will recall a passageway which ran through the building past the numerous rooms ending at the Gents outside toilet. The piano was dragged to this point, and believe it or not wrestled with great difficulty on to the top of the toilet, across the roof of the lounge and through French style windows into the function suite. Phew!
The following morning, after a very success celebration, three of four survivors met Willie (Conn) with his van for the return journey with the piano and we also, with promises of beer, gained the assistance of some of the Caley regulars. As some one said, “It could only happen in Beith.” The only damage sustained by the piano was a four inch piece of beading knocked off an edge, but this was hurriedly stuck back on and the inspection on reaching the bowling club was passed with flying colours.
One suspects that few pianos will have made such an epic journey before or since! I’m afraid the episode ended our sojourn at the Caley and we moved our St Andrew’s Celebration to the Community Centre, which incidentally had a piano. Although the Jolly Beggars had to move from Barrmill, the spirit to succeed was strong and still is. I hope that in another 60 years time the Cronies of tomorrow will still be enjoying a love of Robert Burns and good fellowship with fellow Burnsians here in Beith.
Written By Past President Hugh Wilson
A Great Little Club
Hon President Harry Young
I am proud to say that I am a Barrmillian, although I have lived in Beith for many years. The first Barrmill Jolly Beggars function I attended was the Burns Supper in the Barrmill Hotel in January 1946, just two years after the formation of the club. Among those present were Mr R W Paterson, headmaster of Beith Academy; Dan Griffen, Edward Anderson (secretary), D Rae, William Howatson and John Jamieson.
I remember that it was a first class evening with great fun and fellowship and I enjoyed it immensely. A few years passed before I actually joined the club in 1954. Since then I have missed very few St Andrew’s Night Celebrations or the annual Burns Supper. The club has had some wonderful and indeed inspirational speakers over the years.
A few that I can immediately recall were the Rev James Currie, Rev Robert Paterson (the Happy Padre), John Jamieson and Matthew Boyd. The club has also been blessed with some great singers and amongst these were Simpson C Jamieson, better known simply as Simie; David Millar; Hammy McQueen and of course I myself have been the club singer for fifty years.
The Beggars held all their functions in the upstairs room in the Barrmill Hotel until around 1974 when we made the Eglinton Inn, Beith our headquarters. The main functions are generally held in the Masonic Hall or Beith Community Centre. I can honestly say that the Jolly Beggars is indeed a grand wee club and I am very proud to be one of the cronies from the early Barrmill days.
Since 1954 there will have been very few occasions when I have not been a singer at the Jolly Beggars. I was very proud when the cronies decided to confer the great honour of honorary presidency on me in 2001. As you can imagine I have many very special memories that I can look back on with a smile and twinkle in my eye. Long may the club continue to be a welcoming place for local men.
By Hon President Harry Young
