A now defunct Edinburgh cricket club is rolling out the whisky barrel – literally – to raise funds for research into a cancer which sadly claimed one of their most prolific players.
In 2005 Trinity Academicals’ 80-year-old ground at Bangholm was developed with no provision for cricket which created a major problem for the club.
After discussion with another local cricket club, Drummond, it was agreed a merger should take place.
This has been successful with the new Drummond Trinity club is currently running five teams in various East league Divisions.
Ian Webster, last president of Trinity Accies, takes up the story:
“The financial agreement of the merger stated that each club should pay an equal amount into the coffers of the new club. This was done but left us with a problem – we had some money. approximately £1900, left over!
“Acting on the recommendation of Jim McEwan. a work colleague at the Northern Lighthouse Board, the Trinity committee decided to invest in a couple of casks of Bruichladdich whisky in 2005. This gave us some time to decide what to do with the extra money.
“In the summer of 2002 one of our TACC stalwarts, Hamish Jardine, had died of the little-known disease of Amyloidosis. The club had previously given a donation to the only organisation involved in research into this disease. The research is undertaken at the Royal Free Hospital in London. After much discussion it was agreed recently to sell our now 19-year-old whisky and donate any profit to this charity.
“We took advice and guidance from Ewan McIlwraith of Robertsons of Pitlochry, a well-known person within the Scottish Whisky industry.
“What we did not expect was the worth of the whisky when bottled. We have around 318 bottles now retailing at £250 per bottle. Even taking into all the costs involved (duty, bottling, transport VAT) we expect to donate to the charity in excess of £40K if we sell all the stock. Not bad from an initial investment of £1900!”
To purchase a bottle go to: www.robertsonofpitlochry.com
