Co-optimist Newsletter 2025

The end of another season for the Co-optimists  has passed and we are just about at the beginning of another. Last season was certainly an eventful one. 2024 was the Club’s centennial year and was celebrated on 12th September  2024 with a very successful long lunch at Prestonfield House in Edinburgh. Chaired by President Euan Kennedy, MC’d by Willie Allan and with speeches from Jim Wallace, SRU President, and Colin M. Murray (grandson of George St Clair Murray) and, a Q & A panel chaired by John Beattie asking the questions and Gavin Hastings, Sean Lineen and Craig Chalmers supplying some of the answers! In addition, we were entertained by a former denizen of the front row, Duncan Wilson, not in the black arts of the scrum but as a skilled and talented magician! There was an excellent turn out from old Co-optimists and their guests from ‘a the airts’. Friendships were renewed, and old stories retold.  A thoroughly enjoyable afternoon in a beautiful venue.

Our grateful thanks to our longstanding sponsors Baillie Gifford, Transform Financial Planning, Quattro Consulting and Thistle Properties for their continuing support over the years

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It is thanks to the generosity of these companies that we continue to exist as a club and are able to raise the teams which publicise and celebrate the game of rugby across Scotland, and occasionally beyond.

This season of 2024/25 ended with two matches. Our traditional fixture with the East Lothian select and another match against a Murrayfield Wanderers select to celebrate the Fields in Trust Charities centenary year. Both matches were played in April 2025. The Fields in Trust charity match was played at Roseburn Park in the shadow of Murrayfield and the East Lothian game at Haddington (100 years after the inaugural game).  Both games included new Co-optimists from a wide variety of clubs from the East, West, the Borders and Fife. The games lived up to their reputation. Lots of running rugby, lots of tries and great entertainment. Co-optimist club ties were presented to all first timers after the games.

Sadly, we lost a number of old Co-optimists over the year. All well-known characters and great ambassadors for the game. May they rest in peace.

Ian McLauchlan     June 2025    Jordanhill

John Douglas         Jan 2025      Stewarts, Edinburgh Wanderers

Peter Brown           Jan 2025      Gala

Graham Dall           May 2025     Heriots

Ronnie Glasgow    Oct 2024     J'hill G'donians  D’fermline Haddington Ken McAuley        Oct 2024    Gala Heriots  

Donald Scott          June 2024   Langholm Watsonians

Ian Ross                 June 2024   Hillhead HSFP

Should anyone be aware of any other former Co-optimists who have passed away in the past year or so please let us know at coopshonsec@gmail.com

Over the past few years the committee has, through illness, old age and business commitments lost some hard-working members including Bill Dunlop, Charlie Bryden, Robin Lind and, more recently, Roger Baird,. We have however managed to replace them with Gavin Hastings, James Johnston and Johny Mathews who bring a wealth of experience and talent to the club. 

And, finally, a heads up on our new on-line merchandise shop. Hooded tops, sweat shirts, club sweaters etc are all on sale to those who have played for or support the Co-optimists. Very handy for birthdays, Christmas etc. You can access the shop on the Kit subpage on the web site by clicking on the club jersey image or simply use this link  Co-ops-kit. Club ties can be bought by contacting the Honsec giving the opposition on the day and the name of your home club.

Enjoy the summer weather but we can still watch the Lions on their tour to Australia. Two tests in the bag and one to go! Great to see two Co-optimists in the squad. Unfortunately Darcy Graham injured and on the way home but Hugo Keenan still there. Well done to both of them.

2 August 2025

Note:

The newsletter has been sent out to all the email addresses we have on the club records If in the course of your social activities you hear that a former player has not received a copy they can rectify this by contacting coopshonsec@gmail.com or using the Contacts page in the club web site..