A Wee Departure

When one considers that The Macallan distillery is a major contributor to the highest selling blended whisky, the Famous Grouse, it becomes simple to return to the great man, Bill McLaren. The Famous Grouse was, for many years, themajor sponsor of his beloved Scottish rugby and he was the voice of rugby everywhere. He also was for many, many years an enthusiastic golfer. Indeed, the tale is well known of how, when age had caused one of his fingers to curl and he was unable to straighten it he refused an operation as he claimed that the finger “helped him grip his club better.”

I never met the great man but a great friend of mine, Bruce Aitchison, the current coach of Watsonians RFC was behind the campaign to have Bill become Sir Bill McLaren and he told me many tales of the legend’s dedication to sport and to Scotland, indeed to Hawick his home town. Bill McLaren was a tribute to his home country and was a fine example of what many of us would aspire to be. It seems fitting that he was laid to rest after 86 years on the day dedicated to Robbie Burns, Scotland’s national poet.

Bill was himself a modern day lyrical genius whose turn of phrase will be fondly remembered for many a year to come much like the great Bard. On the day after his death, The Herald published a cartoon depicting Bill being winged over The Pearly Gates with Saint Peter quoting the great man’s words, “It’s high enough, it’s straight enough!” With damp eyes and fond memories, I invite you to raise a glass of The Macallan, as old as you can get, to “an auld acquaintance”. - J.B.

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