William Waterston (Malleny Grove)

Croupier   1886,  1887,  1890

Proposer of the Toast  "Architecture"  1883

Proposer of the Toast  "The Immortal Memory of Robert Burns"  1884

Proposer of the Toast  "The Lasses"  1885

Reply to the Toast  "Commercial Interests of the District"    1886,  1888,  1890

Proposer of the Toast  "Our Hosts" or "The Landlord - Landlady"  1887

Proposer of the Toast  "Educational Interests"   1887,  1890

Proposer of the Toast  "Let it Blaw - the Balerno Burns Club"  1891,  1896

Proposer of the Toast  "Commercial Interests of the District"   1892

Proposer of the Toast  "Kindred Clubs"   1894

Served on the Club Committee

1884,  1885,  1886,  1887,  1888,  1889,  1892,  1896

Became a member of 'Let it Blaw'   c.1881

First mentioned in Toast List/Programme  1883

Although a relatively young man (28) in 1881, William Waterston was a General Merchant & Grocer in Balerno Village and would, thereby, be a well known individual in the community.  As he was trusted with proposing one of the main Toasts at the 1883 Supper, it seems reasonable to assume that he attended 'Let it Blaw' in the two years beforehand for which records weren't kept. It goes without saying therefore that he is probably one of the 23 Gentlemen who attended the first 'Let it Blaw' in 1881 .

Perhaps an example of the significance of William's role in Club affairs in the first ten years of Let it Blaw is that when George Y. Robertson, in his role of Club Bard, presented a collection of rhymes at the 1891 annual Supper and mentioned many prominent members of the Club, William Waterston was one of those incuded. The presentation was printed by Club Member A. G. Moir (at his own expense) and a copy of the printed version is included in the Club Minute Book of the period. The layout has been adapted for our website and can be viewed at Ragged Rhymes .