The Robertson-Aikman family owned Ross House (“The Ross”), a huge baronial pile close to the Hamilton racecourse but secluded by being surrounded by the M74, A723 and the River Clyde.
Major William H Robertson Aikman (1902-78), was clerk of the course and managing director at Lanark and Hamilton in the 1950s and 60s. In 1926 his father Colonel Thomas was one of the influencers (not that they were called that then) who engineered the revival of Hamilton races.
In 1964 the impending demise of Bogside racecourse encouraged William to make great plans for Lanark and Hamilton, where money was made available for their modernisation.
Levy Board funding of £150,000 on a new stand in the Hamilton cheap ring and £500,000 on new stands at Lanark was envisaged. However, actual funding was much less and by the end of the decade both courses were threatened with closure. Lanark struggled on till 1977, when it ran out of money, whereas Hamilton, with fresh momentum from the Saints and Sinners (qv), kept going.
William was a noted Scottish cricketer in the 1920s, but his main love was curling. His father was President of the Hamilton Curling Club from 1884-1948, whereupon William took over. Father and son therefore fulfilled the role for 94 consecutive years. In 1965 William succeeded Prince Philip as President of the Scottish Curling Association, a position he held for two years.
His memorial race was first run on 12 July 1979 and the last on 6 September 1993.