Graeme Robertson, 1937-2025
It was with great sadness that we learnt of the death of Graeme Robertson on Thursday, 23rd October, a fine man, player, past Committee Member, and life-long supporter of the Club. He was 88.
Graeme was at Edinburgh Academy from 1942 to 1949, then Dollar Academy from 1949 to 1954, after his parents died tragically in a train crash at Goswick in 1947.
After National Service (The Royal Scots), he played at Accies for a season and a half 1957/58. He played mostly in the 2nd XV, but managed a handful of games for the 1st XV. This was mainly due to the exceptional quality of the team at that time, who dominated Scottish rugby and having to work on Saturdays and long hours in the wine and spirit trade, which prevented him from training midweek.
Great Accies of that era included Tommy & Gilbert McClung, Brian Neil, George Marwick, Stan Coughtrie, Keith Paterson-Brown, Sandy Gardiner, and Charlie Herd, who all became lifelong friends. Other great friends at the club were Vic Murphy, Ian Gibson and Ian Millar.
Accies was not only a great rugby club, but a fantastic social club. Graeme remained a member of the Club for over 50 years. He was a great supporter of the Club in the 1980s & 90s, cheering on the team and especially his son, Jamie Robertson, a talented centre. He supplied wine to the Club, via his wine merchant business, TM Robertson and Son, and attended the various balls and (now legendary) parties in the old Pavillion and the Ben Tod Lounge.
He was also a keen supporter of schools rugby and would often be found at Newfield, Myreside, Goldenacre or Dollar. He was known to rattle Garry Bowe’s cage a few times from the sidelines!
His great friend, Gilbert McClung, asked him to speak at the Club’s annual dinner at The George Hotel in the 1980s. These dinners were not for the faint hearted, but he successfully navigated his way through the night and even managed to avoid the flying rolls!
He also had a share in a business with John Douglas in the 1960s where one of their pubs was The Gretel in Hawick which, at that time, was the ‘place to be’ on a Saturday night. They both had to be there regularly to keep an eye on everything, whilst no doubt enjoying a couple of libations in the company of regular patrons Barnes, Renwick, Froud, McCartney et al!
Golf was another passion of Graeme’s and he was a long-time member of the Academical Golf Club, captaining the club in season 1979/80. He represented the Club on many occasions at the Halford Hewitt, Wayfarers and other outings and won the Winter Foursomes with Ross Smith a remarkable four times. Graeme was also a member of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers for 32 years.
Our thoughts and condolences are with Graeme’s family and many friends.
Graeme’s funeral will be held at 10am on Friday 7th November at Dirleton Kirk, to which all family and friends are invited and then afterwards at The Open Arms. Club ties encouraged. Family flowers only please and donations, if desired, to MS Society.