Golf: Town's pioneers honoured

Willie Anderson won the event four times in five years from 1901-05, with Fred McLeod, the 1908 champion, also achieving the notable feat after he moved to America.

Jimmy Thomson almost completed the hat-trick when he was runner-up in the 1935 event and, in the field McLeod beat, there were no less than seven North Berwick professionals, highlighting the important role the East Lothian town played in the modern foundation of the game which was then growing on the other side of the Atlantic.

"We know of about 130 individuals who emigrated from North Berwick between 1897-1922 to work in the golf industry and this number is still growing," said Douglas Seaton, editor of the website 'Famous North Berwick Golfers'.

From that list, 45 are honoured with plaques that have proved a popular attraction to visitors to the town since they were unveiled by North Berwick's modern day world golfing star, Catriona Matthew.

"Many families from around the world have accessed the website and added to the information," added Seaton.

"The plaques for Willie and Fred in particular have attracted attention, they are both attached to a common stair in the High Street where they lived as teenagers.

"In addition to the well-known names such as Willie, Fred and Dorothy Campbell (the first person to win the British and US Amateur Women's Championships back-to-back), we are also proud of lesser-known golfers such as Robert Murray, George Turnbull and Robert Johnstone."

The project started about four years ago with the growth of new technology and an interest in the careers of Anderson and McLeod. "Access to various archives through the internet made the research a little easier such as the passenger lists to America and US census records," said Seaton.

"While searching I came across other golfers from North Berwick, then a trickle became a torrent.

"The project had a life of its own, suddenly there were over 120 names.

"It was then I recruited three friends, none of them golfers, they were only interested in local history.

"The movement of so many families emigrating from the town in a relatively short period was new research and they were hooked.

"It was my suggestion to honour our pioneering golfers with a plaque, similar to the London Blue Plaque scheme, and the qualification bar was high.

"There are lots of ordinary stories and many which are truly amazing, all from such a small town."

To find out more about North Berwick's conveyor belt of golfing pioneers log on to www.northberwick.org.uk/clubmakers.html