Haddington Rugby Club

The success of Trades has been due to countless rugby devotees during the last five decades and I have always admired its strong administrative base. The genial Jimmy Murray was at the helm in its formative years, a pleasant chap who was never stuck for a word. I will always remember the occasion when following a fixture against Dunbar, the team bus departed without him.  Fortunately a comfort stop was made at Neilson Park pavilion where Jimmy caught up thanks to the good offices of a Dunbar member.

The incomparable Tam Reid figures large in the Haddington connection as one of the most delightful characters in rugby. Truly one of nature’s gentlemen with a touch of devilment which endeared him to many and who could chair any gathering with consummate ease. There are numerous tales of Tam's exploits and my personal favourite occurred at our annual Sevens tournament when he was locked in the Committee Room during a tie involving the home side.

Jock Imrie is indelibly printed on my mind with his extremely positive thinking on all rugby matters allied to his encyclopedic knowledge of the game.

Jim Arnot who emeigrated to Haddington and gave us the benefit of his vast experience making a valuable cintribution to the club as fixture secretary and selector.

Many other stalwarts come to mind such as Rob Bell, Wilson Blaikie, Bobby McDonald, Alec Mitchell, Jim Turnbull and Fred Willison.

The first meeting of the clubs took place in season 1948/49 and conveniently I cannot recall the result though in season 1950/51 at Knox Institute playing fields the home side triumphed by two penalties to a try by Spreng. A quote from the Haddingtonshire Courier at the time reads: “The tactical genius of Lumsden, the Hawick fly-half, alone kept them from scoring” and “The match proved to be one of the most exciting played at Haddington for some time, and the home team did well to revenge their heavy defeat earlier in the year”.  Lummy’s scrum-half that day was that nuggety likeable person Alex Henderson who always reminded me of Punch.

The history of Trades would be incomplete without reference to the magnificent achievements on the sevens stage - in particular Cartha, and also Haddington where the Murray Cup was won six times. I vividly recall the fierce competitiveness of Jogger Hook and his jousts with Robin Calder, the scintillating skills of the flaxen haired Jim Douglas, the drive of Jock Mallin, the perpetual motion of Jim Irvine, the beautifully balanced running of John Auchinleck and the admirable dedication of Tank Gibson.

A source of some amusement to me is the Trades penchant for applying nicknames to colleagues such as CUSH, DEEBS, MASHER, SALLY, STICKS, and TANK.

The Trades Dinner is an annual event to be savoured and is a glowing example of an orderly well conducted function. I have enjoyed on many occasions the entertaining expertise of Bert Armstrong, Addie Inglis, Viv Sharp, Henry Douglas, Ian Landles and Rod Stewart. Incidentally it was sometime before I appreciated the significance of having breakfast with Ian Inglis after the dinner.

Sadly the advent of National Leagues has seen the virtual disappearance of a regular 1st XV fixture with Haddington and the continuance of the Boxing day game appears to be teetering on the brink of extinction. To my mind it is important that the appropriate officials of each club get together to ensure the continuation of this historic fixture. I congratulate the club on its past successes and offer my best wishes for its continued wellbeing in the years which lie ahead.