Haddington Lunch Club closed on March 7, approximately 35 years after it was started by Bunty and George Hogg in Haddington Corn Exchange.

Bunty and I met through being members of the community council and she needed volunteers so asked if I could help.

I agreed to become part of her team and, later, another two community councillors, Margaret Ingle and Betty Somerville, became part of the team too. When Bunty sadly passed away, Sarah Tennant then took over.

In 2011, due to health problems, Sarah decided to step down and I was asked to become the convenor. Hilary McSporran became the treasurer and Margaret Coe the secretary.

Over the following years, the lunch club had some happy times going out on bus trips once to Perth, three times to Peebles, twice to Berwick-upon-Tweed, three times to McArthur Glen at Livingston, and the Ravelston in Musselburgh on four occasions.

Unfortunately, their meeting place at the Corn Exchange closed for refurbishment so the Masonic Lodge became their venue.

Then the pandemic closed all meeting places; but once the restrictions were lifted, Margaret and I were allowed to use the Masonic Lodge to make up bags of groceries, and Greg and Janette helped me deliver them to the members.

When we came out of lockdown, we were told the location of the Masonic Lodge was causing traffic problems for the buses dropping and uplifting the members, so once again we had no venue.

Sadly, at this point, Margaret passed away.

As we still had some funds left from Tom Auld’s bequest, Hilary and I asked permission from the executors of his bequest if we could use the remaining funds to take them out to hotels and restaurants for lunch.

This is what we have done to mostly local venues: the Goblin Ha’, Merryhatton and Dunbar Garden Centres, Haddington Golf Club, the Maitlandfield House Hotel and the Waterside Bistro.

Our final farewell was a happy one, looking at lots of photos of the places we have visited.

One of our members, Malcolm Cairns, summed up the members’ feelings, saying how much their friendship had meant to him.

My thanks go to Janette, Kirsty, Greg and especially to Hilary, who has supported me through this last really difficult couple of years. Without their help and support, I would not have been able to carry out Tom’s wishes that his bequest be used to benefit the lunch club members and the volunteers.

Can I thank all the members and helpers for their kind and thoughtful gifts too? Can I also say thanks to Calum for allowing us to use the Masonic Lodge and, finally, though we have had a variety of drivers over the years, the ones that the present members want to thank are George, Colin, Derek and Sandy, who was their favourite. Sandy was always so courteous and respectful to the members and smiled when assisting them off and on the bus. Thanks to Derek for arranging the transport too.

Emily Armatage

(No more convenor of Haddington Lunch Club)