It’s fairly obvious why the activities of ‘Let it Blaw’ ceased between these years or at least it looked as if they ceased.
The war started on 28th July 1914 so Club activities followed the normal format that year with the Supper on 23rd January 1914 through to the Annual General Meeting on 22nd December 1914.
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Extract of the Minute of the Annual General Meeting held on 22nd December 1914:
The Secretary stated that on account of the War, he had noticed that the “Ninety Burns Club” were cancelling their Dinner this year and suggesting that the price of the dinner ticket be given to the War Relief funds. After some conversation, it was agreed that the Secretary issue post cards stating that the Dinner would not take place this year and suggesting that the Members’ Annual Subscriptions of 1/- ( £0.05p), together with whatever additional sum the member chooses to give, be given to the Belgian Relief Fund which was considered by the meeting to be the most necessitous. As very littlein the way of funds would be required by the Club this year, the subscription could easily be done without.
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Extract of the Minute of the Annual General Meeting held on 28th December 1915:
Office Bearers for the ensuing year were elected as follows:
Chairman – Thomas Horsburgh
Croupiers – Hugh Spence & Andrew Falconer
Chaplain – Rev. D.C. Stewart
Bard – John Davidson
Treasurer – George Calder
Secretary – John Fairbairn
On account of the continued duration of the War, it was unanimously resolved not to hold the Anniversary Dinner in January 1916.
Song and Sentiment filled in a pleasant evening.
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Extract of the Minute of the Annual General Meeting held on 22nd December 1916:
Office Bearers for the ensuing year were elected as follows:
Chairman – Thomas Horsburgh
Croupiers – Hugh Spence & Andrew Falconer
Chaplain – Rev. D.C. Stewart
Bard – John Davidson
Treasurer – George Calder
Secretary – John Fairbairn
On account of the continued duration of the War, it was unanimously resolved not to hold the Anniversary Dinner in January 1917.
It was reported at the Meeting that the only death so far from the war of the Membership was
which had occurred on 18th March 1915.
The following three Gentlemen who used to be members of the Club had died in the course of the year:
Mr William Paterson – Malleny
Mr Robert Beveridge – Marguarita Cottage
Mr George Davidson – Bavelaw Castle
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Extract of the Minute of the Annual General Meeting held on 28th December 1917:
Office Bearers for the ensuing year were elected as follows:
Chairman – Thomas Horsburgh
Croupiers – Hugh Spence & Andrew Falconer
Chaplain – Rev. D.C. Stewart
Bard – John Davidson
Treasurer – George Calder
Secretary – John Fairbairn
It was resolved not to hold the Anniversary celebration in January 2018 on account of the continued duration of the war.
It was also agreed to record in the Minutes the names of Mr John Arnot of Currie and Mr John Robertson of Balerno who had recently made the supreme sacrifice at the war. Both were young members of the Club and much sympathy was expressed for the relatives. It was also agreed to express in the Minutes the sympathy the Club had with those members who had lost relatives at the front or who had been wounded.
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Extract of the Minute of the Annual General Meeting held on 19th December 1918:
Office Bearers for the ensuing year were elected as follows:
Chairman – Thomas Horsburgh
Croupiers – Andrew Falconer & John Fairbairn
Chaplain – Rev. D.C. Stewart
Bard – John Davidson
Treasurer – George Calder
Secretary – John Fairbairn
After some discussion as to whether the celebration should be held in January 1919, it was resolved to make enquiries as to what other Clubs were doing, also as to getting over the difficulty of procuring the necessary food and refreshments under the existing system of rationing, and thereafter to convene a further meeting to decide.
The Chairman, Thomas Horsburgh, intimated that he would be willing to give £5 towards inviting soldiers or sailors who happened to be in the district at the time of the dinner. The meeting thanked Mr Horsburgh for his kind offer.
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Extract of the Minute of the Committee Meeting held on 7th January 1919:
After some discussion as to whether the Dinner should be held this year, it was ultimately agreed that on account of the difficulty procuring the necessary food and refreshments, not to hold it.
However, in lieu of the formal Burns Supper, it was decided that in January 1919, ‘Let it Blaw’ would hold a Concert Party in the Gibson-Craig Memorial Hall in Currie which was mainly intended as a treat and ‘welcome home’ to the soldiers and sailors who had returned from service.
So, after four lost years, ‘Let it Blaw’ held the Concert on Friday 31st January 1919 with, the next year, on 23rd January 1920, ‘ a Supper in the Malleny Arms.