In 1948: Legendary commentator Bill McLaren played his last match for Hawick on the September Holiday Monday against Glasgow Accies prior to his premature retirement having been diagnosed with Tuberculosis.He then made his radio debut at Old Anniesland in 1952 commentating on the Inter City





Bill McLaren

Scottish Rugby is immensely saddened to learn of the death this morning of the man who to millions worldwide was simply “The Voice of Rugby.” Hawick’s favourite son, Bill McLaren, passed away peacefully at the local hospital at 10.30am. He was 86.

Bill McLaren never played rugby for Scotland but such was his vast enthusiasm, encyclopaedic knowledge, attention to detail and sheer undiluted enthusiasm, that he did more to excite the world about rugby through his BBC TV and radio commentaries than had he worn the thistle in scrum, ruck, maul or tackle.

His warm Border brogue, his colourful turn of descriptive phrase – we all have our favourites whether “a bit of argy-bargy” or “it’s a try by Hika the hooker from Ngongotaha” – and his impartiality: could you even detect a waver in his voice when his son-in-law Alan Lawson scored two tries in a Scotland win against England at Murrayfield in 1976?

To his vast TV fan club he was the Voice. But there was much more to Bill – he was the PE teacher in Hawick who first instilled a love of the game and its values in thousands of young players – players who went on to represent Scotland and the British Lions such as Jim Renwick and Tony Stanger.

There was Bill the journalist, initially at the Hawick Express and then at the Glasgow Herald, always prepared to analyse a game fairly in terms a layman could understand; and always prepared to offer an encouraging or supportive word to young journalists making their first tentative steps in a competitive profession.

Above all there was Bill the family man and proud Borderer. It may sound clichéd but he absolutely worshipped his wife Bette – The Goddess he called her – and was never happier than when spending time with his daughters Janey and Linda and their families.

When son-in-law Alan Lawson was playing for Heriot’s in Edinburgh in the 1980s, McLaren’s grand-children would be on the touchline – not always watching the games. Bill would keep an eye out from the press box or TV gantry on their antics.

Two of that happy band, Gregor and Rory, went on to play for Heriot’s too. Gregor also played for Scottish Students, while Rory, has gone on to play professionally for Heriot’s and Gloucester and win 17 caps for Scotland.

Rory’s cousin, Jim Thompson, is following a well-trodden path of Heriot’s and Edinburgh and was one of the stand-out performers from full-back when Scotland A won the IRB Nations Cup in Romania last summer.

Bill, whose health had suffered in recent years, took immense pride in his grand-sons’ performances. When Rory played a major part off the bench in Scotland’s win over Australia two months ago, Bill was at home in Hawick. Sadly the stormy weather meant his TV aerial had been damaged and he didn’t see the game live.

When Scottish Rugby learned he’d missed the live action we worked alongside his producer at BBC Scotland, Grigor Stirling, to get him both video and DVD action of the match. He loved it.

Bill’s passion for rugby shone from his days as a player in the Hawick team and but for contracting tuberculosis he may well have graduated from playing in the Scotland trial as a flanker.

His first international commentary was on radio alongside Rex Alston and GV Wynne-jones – Scotland v Wales in 1953. His last international TV commentary, fittingly, was Wales v Scotland at Cardiff some 49 years later. That occasion was marked by the crowd at the Millennium Stadium giving him a warm ovation and Scotland players Gregor Townsend and Chris Paterson presenting him with a specially embroidered jersey.

Between those two dates he was without peer as a commentator on rugby. He was awarded the MBE, OBE and CBE and within the game itself he was awarded the Freedom of Scottish Rugby in 2000 and became the first non-international player to be inducted into the IRB’s Hall of Fame in 2001.

He retired from TV commentary in 2002 and it marked the end of an era. The “homework” that Bill did before a game, his copious notes and research – a trait that he embellished from the doyen of current affairs broadcasters, Richard Dimbleby – and the specially adapted pack of cards that he would turn over to assist with player identification, have gone into broadcasting history.

As Scottish Rugby’s patron HRH The Princess Royal said in paying tribute to McLaren in 2002: “He has passed on his love for the game and all it represents to everyone he has met or spoken with. His unique contribution to the commentator’s art has been applauded by both his peers and listeners alike the world over.”
Scotland captain Chris Cusiter said that Bill was an inspiration. “When I was growing up he was the Voice of Rugby. He was the guy you heard and you recognised instantly. He was unparalleled.”
Scotland attack coach Gregor Townsend, who had “the privilege” of McLaren’s commentary as a backdrop to many of his 82 internationals said: “As a youngster I used to cut out the articles Bill wrote in The Herald. I remember he wrote about me when I played for Gala against Melrose and he had such a technical grasp of the game and was able to offer advice for things for a young player to work on. He knew his rugby all right.
“I first met him when it was my first season for Scotland. As part of Bill’s preparation he would come along and watch the team train on the Friday. If you were lucky Bill would give you a Hawick Ball (the famous minty sweets that he carried with him in a tin). I’m a Gala man but Bill would always say to me I was his wife’s favourite when he handed over the sweeties.
“Bill was fantastic. A Scot and a Borderer – a global rugby figure that everybody held in the highest regard.”
Chris Paterson, Scotland’s most capped player, said: “I was shattered when I heard the news and I feel so sorry for his friends and family.
“On a personal level, I grew up listening to him and he made rugby sound both entertaining and interesting.
“Later on, I had to pinch myself when I played in games that he commentated on. I don’t think there’ll be anybody like him again and he will be missed.”
Former Scotland and British and Irish Lions player and coach Sir Ian McGeechan said: “For me growing up Bill was the voice of rugby alongside Cliff Morgan. You will never know how many people Bill brought to the game by the way he commentated.
“He was an absolute gentleman, totally unbiased. He had the knack of always looking for the best in players and had a massive positive impact on us.
“As a coach Bill would always come and watch the Friday session before a match. He never came empty-handed, there was always a Hawick Ball there and he was always positive in everything he said.
“I don’t think anyone could ever estimate just what his value has been to the game and what he has done. I remember seeing him after the 1990 Grand Slam game and he exuded pride.
“But above all Bill didn’t just have a massive impact because of rugby. It was also because of his knowledge and understanding of people.”
Scottish Rugby Union President Jim Stevenson said: “On behalf of the entire rugby community in Scotland I want to express our heartfelt sympathies to Bette and the family but, most of all, I want to express our thanks and appreciation for the joy and fun that Bill brought to our game. Bill was THE ambassador for rugby and I know clubs and individuals around the rugby world will mourn his passing but share in the rich and happy memories that he inspired.”

This article was originally posted on 19-Jan-2010, 20:27 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Hugh Barrow on 20-Jan-2010, 08:36.