‘Voice of rugby’ laid to rest

HUNDREDS of mourners lined the streets of Hawick yesterday to pay their respects to veteran rugby commentator Bill McLaren.

The man known as the “voice of rugby”, who retired in 2002 after almost 50 years as a broadcaster, died in hospital last week, aged 86.

Around 650 family and friends packed into the Teviot Church in his home town in the Scottish Borders for his funeral, while hundreds more people lined the streets outside to listen to a broadcast of the service.

Former Scotland rugby stars Gavin Hastings, Gregor Townsend, Jim Renwick and Colin Deans were present. Scotland player Chris Paterson, BBC rugby pundit John Beattie and Channel 4 racing commentator Derek Thompson also attended the service.

Gregor Lawson, one of McLaren’s grandsons, led the tributes to “a great Hawick man, a great rugby man and a great family man”.

Speaking on behalf of McLaren’s wife Bette and the rest of the family, he said it was fitting to say goodbye to the “great Scot” on a day renowned for another great Scot – Rabbie Burns.

He said: “We have been amazed by the response from the media, such touching tributes from the great and the good of the rugby world and far further afield and, just as important, people we’ve met on Hawick High Street over the past week or so.

“So much has been said by people significantly more important and erudite than me about his unparalleled impartiality, his iconic voice, his professionalism, his gentlemanly nature and his ambassadorship for both rugby and Scotland.

“Whilst we have shed many tears through sadness, a great many have also been shed simply through bursting with pride.”

Mr Lawson told how McLaren, the man he knew as “papa”, would have wondered what all the fuss was about.

“One of papa’s charms was that he had no perspective about the love people had for him or the reason they had it,” he said.

“After a week of national and international tributes, thousands of messages and a Facebook movement to rename a stand at Murrayfield – papa now you know.”

Mr Lawson shared memories of the much-loved commentator and recalled his fondness for strange foods, such as soup with marshmallows and red wine with lemonade, as well as his appetite for sugary treats.

Mourners were given Hawick balls, McLaren’s favourite sweets, as they filed in for the start of the service.

The coffin was later carried from the church by members of Hawick Rugby Club to the sound of Flower Of Scotland on the bagpipes.

Hundreds of people later lined the streets in the centre of Hawick to pay their respects as the funeral cortege passed by.

Spontaneous applause echoed through the Borders town when the car made its way towards Wellogate Cemetery.

A memorial service will be held at a later date for the rugby world at large to remember McLaren, who combined his work as a broadcaster with that of a PE teacher until 1987.