A few snaps
Jock Gray sadly passed at the weekend following a year long battle with the very debilitating disease, CJD.
As a local man, hailing from Carnwath, Jock oft frequented the club as a social member when the clubhouse was opened in the early 1990’s. At that time his sporting passion was rally car driving and he socialised with his pals in the (then) new clubhouse.
His interest in rugby was fleeting at that time, a distant second best to rallying; Jock was keen to follow results and support the club but with little real involvement. That was to change dramatically when his sons Jordan and then Cameron became involved at Mini rugby, as Jock threw himself into supporting them and the club in any, and every way possible.
As keen parent supporters Jock and Susan attended every game they could to support the boys teams. Bag loads of goodies were bought and brought to sustain the troops at Festivals and games: that is for players, coaches and parents – no one ever went hungry! The marginal negative to that was that the boys became hyper at the quantities of sugar involved and so sweets were substituted by fruit with apples, oranges, grapes, bananas et al on hand and these proved equally popular. Jock and Susan’s generosity knew no bounds.
When players needed medical attention Jock quickly decided that this was another way to support the boys and so he sought qualifications to become 1st Aid trained. This gained, Jock took charge of touchline issues, diagnosing injuries and providing appropriate care.
As the clubhouse developed its facilities, Jock was quick to get involved. His experience as a heating engineer proving invaluable with the installation of air conditioning and air sourced heat pumps. And of course the extensions were numerous and so Jock was readily called upon to help; nothing was ever too much trouble - if Jock could help, Jock helped!
Volunteer parents have always taken turns to provide post event fare at the clubs annual Mini tournament. This was the next very natural progression for the Gray’s, a role they adopted and relished over several years. The tables were full as Jock and Susan performed their magic.
With Jordan and Cameron graduating to Youth and then Senior rugby, Jock’s focus switched as he followed them, again as a supporter but as often as not on the touchline providing that same level of 1st Aid care. His role as Colts 1st aider lasted for several years and included accompanying touring teams on weekend tours in Scotland and to Ireland.
It mattered not if his own boys were playing, Jock took his role seriously and did all he could for any team he could, Youth sides or 2nd XV. He was the ‘go to’ bagman for many age groups. And then if someone was needed to run touch – yep, he’d do that as well! Keen as always, Jock soon took on another role, that of Bar-b-q chief at the club’s Sevens – he was on hand to cook! Clean up? Jock was on hand to do that too with help provided from his helpers, many of them present or past Colts. It was after that event in 2023 that Jock first became aware that not was all well healthwise.
Many of those players Jock helped on the pitch became firm friends and accompanied him on his annual jaunt to the Mull rally. Indeed while Jock has hundreds of friends of his own vintage, the number of past and present Colts who took time to visit Jock during his illness was a source of huge comfort to the family and of course to Jock, the boys clearly recognising that here was someone who had given them much and who now needed their support in return.
Whilst Jock had played rugby at school, he had never played at senior age group although anybody watching him on the touchline saw that he 'played' every game, studying the action, giving and taking every pass and making every tackle. Eventually curiosity took its grip (if the boys can play, so can I!) and as a member of Biggar Over 35’s he played his first full game (against Peebles) at the tender age of 50!
This was followed by another appearance in the Santa v Snowmen Christmas match of 2016 with Jordan also featuring in the same team and then again when he teamed up with Cameron in 2019. And of course when the Mini section looked for a volunteer Santa…...yep, Jock was the man!
As noted then, Jock liked nothing better than to be involved (some would say immersed) in anything and everything - if it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right - and there is little doubt that the club is much the poorer following his loss.
Jock was first and foremost a family man however, doting on Susan, Jordan and Cameron. He was SO proud when Cameron was selected to play 1st XV rugby two season’s ago against Stirling and his selection for the Uni whilst a student in Glasgow and SO proud too of Jordan’s involvement as a Youth coach after a car accident ended his playing days. The club’s loss is huge, but, in reality, tiny in comparision to their loss. It is with great sadness that the club offers its sincere condolences to all Jock’s family.
The Biggar Young Farmers Rally held in June and in aid of the CJD Support Network was a phenomenal success and Biggar RFC will hold a fundraiser later in the season to recognise his contributions to the club.
With Jock’s knowledge and approval, a trophy will be presented each year in his memory to the Colt (U18) who contributes most to the club in that season – a particularly fitting award given Jock’s contributions on so many fronts.
Jock’s Funeral will take place on Friday August 30th at 3pm
South Lanarkshire Crematorium, Blantyre.
Afterwards at Lanark Agricultural Centre, Lanark.
The service can be streamed on request - family flowers only.
