It is with great sadness that those of us of a certain age learn of the passing of Jimmy Doyle a stalwart of the club in the early 70s. He arrived with his wife Betty like a hurricane, and they entered with gusto into our club scene.

Jimmy was a real "Border Forrad" and it was said that he played all his rugby on the ground, as laws allowed in those days, and he secured lots of ball for us, I can attest to his ball wrestling strength as on many occasions when the ref blew up and the bodies cleared I found that I had been competing for the ball with Jimmy! I opined that Jimmy didn't play on the ground but more subterranean!

Jimmy arrived at Corstorphine as he had been transferred to Edinburgh with the Civil Service, but he Looked nothing Iike a Civil Servant more a victorian pugilist due to the hard manner in which he put himself about when playing. Jimmy had a vertical slash in the middle of his forehead, in all the days that I played with him and ended every game with blood pouring down his face and he was often advised that he should go to A&E to have it stitched but always eschewed this suggestion as it would waste good drinking time and also may prevent him from playing in the next match!

Jimmy captained the club with distinction in season 72-73 and left us when promoted to Derby, but always visited when he was in Edinburgh.

Jimmy seemed to thrive in the rugby environment and has since been a long lasting stalwart at Melrose RFC.

Jimmy’ funeral is being held on Friday 29th September, there will be a memorial service at Melrose Parish Church at 12pm and then a reception at the club from 12:45pm to which all family & friends are invited.

He will be sadly missed; our condolences go to Betty and the rest of the family.

Parky