Double celebration for Tullymet curlers New clubhouse is opened on diamond jubilee
A Highland Perthshire curling club has celebrated the diamond jubilee of its outdoor curling pond by officially opening its new clubhouse.
Tullymet Curling Club welcomed around 30 guests on Saturday as it marked two milestones in its history.
It was 60 years ago this year that the first curling competition was played on the club’s purpose built pond, based near Ballinluig.
That anniversary was commemorated as the club unveiled its brand new clubhouse, which has replaced a similar building that was erected in 1958.
Construction of the new clubhouse was made possible following fundraising by club members and funding from external sources.
The club received a £600 donation from the Atholl Ice Fund and over £6500 of grant funding from the SSE Griffin and Calliachar Community Fund.
A number of local businesses, including Dowally-based contractor RA Laird and Breedon Aggregates at Shierglas Quarry, also supported the project.
Tullymet Curling Club’s new clubhouse was officially opened by its longest serving member Willie Cameron, who first joined the club in 1948 and is now one of its honorary members.
Among the gathered crowd were some former members of the club and individuals who had lent their support to the project.
Manufactured by Errol-based Gillies and Mackay, the new timber building was purpose-built for the Tullymet Curling Club and cost considerably more than its predecessor. The 1958 clubhouse had cost the club £80 – approximately £2000 in today’s money.
Tullymet Curling Club president, Ian McLaren, said: “A lot of hard work went into creating this pond 60 years ago and during the past six decades the club has enjoyed some great bonspiels and nights on the ice.
“Outdoor curling on ponds and small lochs in communities like Tullymet is where the sport has its roots and it is important to continue that tradition.
“Tullymet Curling Club is very grateful to the SSE Griffin and Calliachar Community Fund for its support in erecting our new clubhouse.
“As we mark 60 years of curling on this pond, we can now look forward with confidence to many decades of outdoor curling at this site.
“As a club we relish the opportunity to curl outside when the conditions allow.
“Hopefully after this warm, dry summer we get a cold winter that allows us to take to the ice and make full use of the pond and clubhouse.”
Morven Smith, SSE’s head of community investment, said: “I’m Graham Huggins, SSE Griffin and Calliachar Community Fund panel member, Tullymet Curling Club member Willie Cameron and president Ian McLaren delighted that Tullymet Curling Club has completed its new clubhouse and it is now available for use.
“It’s great to see SSE’s community funds being used to support local groups, particularly when this is such a unique facility in the area.
“I hope it will be used for many years to come.”
Founded in 1840, Tullymet Curling Club is one of the oldest curling clubs still in existence in Highland Perthshire and one of only a handful that still has an outdoor pond in a playable state.
Recent winters have not provided the right conditions and depth of ice to allow competitions to be played on the pond since 2003.
The club currently has 15 playing members and three honorary nonplaying members and curls out of Dewars Centre in Perth.
Last season, Tullymet Curling Club won the Tummel League, a competition played for by clubs in the Atholl Province.