“The Club to the number of 12 held their annual trip this day and,
by special saloon carriage (a private train carriage for their sole use), visited Ayr. There were present :
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Robert Paterson
Peter Potts
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They were fortunate in getting a splended day, and the day’s outing was thoroughly enjoyed by all.
After driving by Burns Cottage, the Monument, Alloway’s Kirk and the Brig o’ Doon, they dined at the Ayr Arms Hotel.
Thereafter a visit was paid to the various places in Ayr associated with the port’s name
and returned in the evening all highly pleased with their trip.
Extract from Club Records written by Secretary John Fairbairn
Note : Entries online point to the Ayr Arms Hotel being owned by Matthew Dickie who,
always sporting a bowler hat, was referred to by his clientele as “Mattha”.
The Original Mattha Dickies; How times change !
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Other entries suggest the pub was known by one and all as “Mattha Dickies” which was located opposite the Tam o’ Shanter pub.
Another mention online states “I remember going to the Ayr Arms with my dad. I didn’t smoke then but my dad did,
he always told me to accept a cig from Mattha, he would smoke it later. They were big fat cigarettes if I remember correctly.
My parents pub, the Duff Arms, was on the same side as the Tam o’ Shanter, a couple of doors towards the Wallace Tower.”
It’s believed Mattha’s wife Mary was known as Martha.
There is a pub in Ayr today called Martha Dickies. It is NOT the same place but is named in memory of the original character.
