It was with great sadness that we learnt of the death of Gordon Wallace on Tuesday, 26th November, a fine man, player, past Committee Member, and life-long supporter of the Club. He was 75.

Charles Stewart Gordon Wallace was educated at the Edinburgh Academy and Manchester University, where he read for a degree in Paper Science. On completion of his studies, he moved back to Scotland and took up residency in the Mill House at Auchendinny, close to the family paper mill business, William Sommerville & Son Ltd, which was run by his father, ‘Buster’ Wallace. Gordon went on to join the family business, where he worked and had a successful career until his retirement, some 20 years ago. A great friend of Gordon’s, Ken Paterson-Brown, fondly remembers his early days in business and what a thoughtful and kind mentor Gordon was: ‘I had joined Accies in 1972 at the age of 16 and Gordon had been nothing but supportive. He learnt a few years later that I was going to become a Sales Representative and the products I would be selling might be something his company might buy. On my first day as a salesman, he arranged for me to visit the Mill and he introduced me to his managers and buyers and, most importantly, made sure that I left with an order. This was typical of his generosity and thoughtfulness which was ongoing. That was 46 years ago and that lesson and generosity I have tried to repeat with others.’

Gordon was a hugely committed rugby player, travelling by train into Edinburgh two or three times a week to train and play for the Accies on the wing, being a direct and quick runner who always headed for the corner flag. Being small, his legs looked like wee fast pistons! On the pitch he was speedy and tenacious. One much larger opponent was heard to comment after a game: ‘the wee b****** kept gnawing away at me!’

EAFC 1st XV 1977-78

Back: PC Thompson, JH White, AWD Hamilton, EJE Hopkins, D Lindsay, GM Menzies, MM Pringle, CBS Richardson, KW Paterson-Brown, WGR Bain

Middle: RH Monteith, WRM Henderson, WDG Louden, RLA Blair ©, The Hon JSW Sempill, DW Pearson, RA Lutton

Front: CSG Wallace, RJ Sim

Gordon played for many years for the Accies, until he got injured, which led to him finding out that he had an unprotected kidney. This was a lucky – if unfortunate - discovery in the sense that if he had continued to play, he could have been far more seriously injured because of his condition. So, his playing days came to an end, but his involvement with rugby, and Accies in particular, was far from over.

What many Accies members are unlikely to know (because of his modesty), was the role he played in keeping the Club afloat after the change to professional rugby in the mid-1990s. This was a very difficult financial period for most amateur clubs, Accies being no exception. For many years, Gordon was involved, either as a generous benefactor, leader or a willing worker, in almost every aspect of the Club. Indeed, when there were particularly unpleasant tasks such as blocked toilets, Gordon was the first to say: ‘Pass the marigolds!’ He also looked after the gate on league match days for at least two seasons, manning the little box at the side of the Portacabins that constituted the entrance to the Club before the present development was built. One of Gordon’s great friends, Walker Forsyth, stated ‘It is no exaggeration to say that Gordon was one reason why Raeburn Place is still here today.’ Another friend and current Accies’ Honorary Secretary and EAFC Life Member, John Wright, who played against Gordon whilst playing for Bradford against Accies back in the 1970s, said: ‘In the late 1990s and early 2000s Gordon grabbed things by the ’scruff of the neck’ and rescued the Club when finances were desperate.’

Latterly, Gordon was always on the touchline supporting his team, and an enthusiastic member of the late Sandy Burnett's infamous ‘Cobra Tours’, travelling around the country supporting Accies. He was also a founding member of Billy Menzies’s now legendary ‘London Reunion Club’ (LRC), along with many other ‘well kent’ friends from Accies, Watsonians, Stewart’s Melville and other rugby clubs, who regularly toured to London and Dublin to support Scotland and play golf against their old chums at Barnet RFC Golfing Society and the Irish Addicts, who were mostly members of Portmarnock Golf Club. Billy fondly recounts: ‘In the early years the LRC, members would take their better halves for a summer lunch on the ‘Pride of the Union’ barge, operating from the Bridge Inn at Ratho. It had been a very enjoyable occasion, but the Skipper announced that the bar was closed as we were approaching the Inn, with no time for last orders. To scupper this, Gordon, now only wearing a kilt, jumped overboard from the moving barge, and proved very difficult to extract from the mud and water……the Skipper reopened the bar, and finally Gordon was brought aboard, celebrating his more direct approach to things!’

Gordon (back left) in 2020 attending the 25th Anniversary Annual Dinner of Billy Menzies’s legendary ‘London Reunion Club’ in Dublin.

Some 50 years ago, Gordon met his future wife, Dottie, who was quickly ‘adopted’ into the Accies family. It wasn’t long before Gordon had ‘persuaded’ Dottie to roll her sleeves up and get involved at Raeburn Place, where she helped pull pints behind the bar in the legendary Ben Tod Lounge and made copious amounts of sandwiches for the players after the home games every other Saturday. Dottie’s early involvement on a voluntary basis was typical of Gordon and Dottie’s steadfast support of the Club over several decades.

It wasn’t long before Gordon and Dottie were married and were subsequently blessed with two daughters, Ruthie and Jilly. Dottie recalls, ’Gordon was such an ardent supporter of both the EA and the EAFC that when our daughter Jilly’s son was of school age, there was only one possible option – Gordon told Jilly, ‘My grandsons are going to EA’ – consequently, grandsons Alexander and Angus are both at EA!’ Latterly, Gordon was unable to make it down to Raeburn Place to support his beloved Accies, but he did manage to visit Newfield on several occasions as a very proud grandad to watch and support his grandsons.

After retiring, Gordon always kept supporting the 1st XV, though he was also Secretary of the Edinburgh Academical Curling Club, being a keen curler, and in the 1990's he sat on the Edinburgh Academy’s Court of Directors (Governors) and in the early 2000s he was President of the Edinburgh Academical Club. He was also a passionate skier and especially enjoyed his skiing trips with friends and family.

Gordon was a keen golfer and Life Member of Luffness New Golf Club, having joined the club in February 1973 and was a dedicated supporter of all events at Luffness. He made many lifelong friends at the club and will be sorely missed, both in the club’s famous ‘Smoke Room’ and on the links.

Gordon was a founder member, Treasurer and Board Member of the charity, Headway East Lothian, to which he (with his crazy physical challenges) and his extended family gave so much of their time over 15 years or more to raise funds to help and support brain injury survivors.

One of Gordon’s oldest friend’s, Angus Tod, summed him up perfectly: ‘Throughout his life, Gordon was a hugely committed and effective supporter of EAFC, all of which he found time for while managing one of the largest employers in Penicuik and overseeing the operation of that paper mill in a very challenging time for the industry and also overseeing the construction of his house in East Lothian, close to Luffness. His selfless commitment to everything he did – including several fantastic charitable causes – was the mark of the man, and he will be greatly missed.’ Another great friend, Billy Menzies, stated: ‘We greatly valued the many rich years of friendship shared with Gordon in sport and leisure, and also in business, where we shared our business interests and challenges, both being in the manufacturing sector……never a dull moment!’

Our thoughts and condolences are with Gordon’s family and many friends, especially his wife, Dottie, daughters Ruthie and Jilly, grandchildren Alexander and Angus, and sisters Jane, Liz, Sheila and Katy.

Gordon’s funeral will take place in the Main Chapel at Mortonhall Crematorium at 12 noon on Tuesday, 10th December, to which all friends are invited. There will be a wake thereafter at The Place, Stockbridge. Family flowers only please and any donations gratefully received for Headway East Lothian in memory of Gordon via this link:  https://www.justgiving.com/page/joyce-cattanach-1732781379323

As a mark of respect, there will be a minute’s silence in memory of Gordon before the 1st XV league match versus Heriot’s at Raeburn Place at 2pm on Saturday, 7th December.