Telfer’s tribute to rugby great Doddie

Rugby legend Telfer pays tribute to Doddie Weir

AS SCOTLAND rugby legend Jim Telfer looks over The Greenyards, his personal memories of the late, great Doddie Weir come flooding back. It is a poignant day for Telfer and everybody connected with Melrose as it is the club’s first game since Weir passed away due to Motor Neurone Disease at the age of 52.

Sitting in the famous old press box at the top of the stand, Telfer is engrossed in Melrose’s 47-13 win over Stirling County.

He talks to no one, as is his want at any game regardless of the level. He doesn’t want to miss a moment. He still dissects matches in his own mind and, although now 82 years old, he is still sharp as anyone when it comes to talking rugby.

It is only when it the game is over that the man who coached Weir for Melrose, Scotland and the British Lions on their 1997 tour to South Africa is ready to talk of one of his favourite people.

It is not an easy thing to do for a man who, despite his tough exterior, always had a special place in his heart for Doddie — who used to always call him Mr Telfer.

‘He died at three o’clock last Saturday afternoon and I still can’t quite get over it,’ said an emotional

Telfer. ‘My overriding

He’s leaving a worldwide legacy due to his work in raising funds for MND

memory will always be his smile, even in adversity. He was unique, an absolute unique human being. One of the best. So brave.

‘Even when he was struck down with MND, he still thought he was a lucky bloke because he was surrounded by so many people who cared for him, who loved him.

‘I was at functions with him when he talked so candidly about what he had and encouraged people to donate to MND research. He was exceptional. He leaves a legacy in rugby, at this club, and a worldwide legacy because of his work to raise funds for MND. There will never be anybody like Doddie Weir.’

Although Weir has gone, Telfer is sure his name will live on for ever. ‘He has a tremendous family, his three sons and his wife,’ he said. ‘I think Ben, Angus and Hamish are great lads and will continue his rugby connection with Melrose.

‘Then there is the work he has done for MND through raising funds and raising awareness. There is nobody in Britain who doesn’t know what the disease is due to Doddie’s hard work.

‘I was in hospital visiting my 95-year-old uncle who was thinking of Doddie. His reach cuts across every generation. He was global.’

Telfer described Weir as ‘one of the best men ever’ and someone who never forgot his roots.

‘He would never pass anyone in the street,’ he added. ‘He was a real man of the people. An exceptional rugby player and an exceptional human being. For all the sadness I feel for Doddie and his family his smile will live with me for ever and all the happiness and joy he had in his life and all the happiness he brought to others.’

The joy that Weir brought to so many lives was the overriding emotion around Melrose on what was a poignant day.

At one o’clock in the town square, a group of local youngsters were throwing a rugby ball about. You don’t see that happening very often in a main street anywhere in Scotland nowadays — but in Melrose yesterday, it was apt.

It is the sort of thing Doddie Weir used to do — albeit in the car park — when he was coming through the ranks at Melrose and waiting for his game at the Greenyards to start. All four of the youngsters even made a lineout, with the biggest of them catching the ball. It looked like their own special tribute to Doddie, whose name was on the lips of locals of all ages. The boys playing rugby can be seen from the cafe at Abbey Fine Wines that is doing a roaring trade in selling bottle of Doddie’s specially-bottled wine for £22 — £5 of that being a straight donation for MND research. ‘Locals have been buying the Doddie wine to honour the big man,’ said owner Niall Keddie. ‘People here loved him and were taken by his courage as I have. He was some man.’

All three local papers have pictures of Weir on the front page, with the Border Telegraph having the simple but effective headline: A Borders Legend.

Walking to the game, there are many wearing Doddie tartan hats or snoods.

The Melrose players warm up in Doddie bandanas before they stand in front of a club strip with Doddie’s No5 on the back. When Stirling County run out, they put one of their strips with a five on it near to it before a minute’s applause.

There is then a poignant moment when former Melrose president Mac Brown reads a poem titled The Mighty Oak in honour of Doddie. There were tears in the stands when he reads the final two lines, ‘Magnificent within its prime, this oak fell long before its time.’

The game was an easy victory for Melrose, with Luke Townsend, son of Scotland head coach Gregor, pulling the strings at fly-half alongside Bruce Colvine at scrum-half.

‘It was emotional out there,’ said Colvine. ‘It was extremely difficult as we all have our own connections, whether it be with Doddie or the Weir family and his sons, who are fantastic guys. They all mean a lot to us.’

The stories were flowing about Doddie in the Melrose club room.

‘It was New Year at the club and Doddie was dressed as Donald Duck at the fancy-dress party,’ said Melrose fan June Fame. ‘But this was not your usual Donald Duck as his tail, instead of coming out of the back, came out of the front. I told Doddie: “I think you have your tail on back to front”.

‘He laughed, came up to me and

said somebody took my picture of me holding his tail that came out the front — but looked like some other part of his anatomy entirely! He was a lovely, happy person and a real character.’

Melrose vice president George Runciman said the club dismissed the idea of calling off the game against Stirling as a mark of respect.

‘We remembered that when the Queen died and all the rugby matches were called off he didn’t agree with that and wanted them to go ahead,’ said Runciman.

‘So we thought that Doddie would want us to crack on with the game, which is why we decided to play.

‘He would not want us to mope around. Melrose is on the world map due to Doddie. Let’s remember him with a smile.’