Bill McLaren
Encyclopedia
William Pollock "Bill" McLaren CBE (16 October 1923 – 19 January 2010) was a Scottish
rugby union
commentator
, teacher, journalist and one time rugby player. Until his retirement in 2002, he was known as 'the voice of rugby'. Renowned throughout the sport, his enthusiasm and a memorable turn of phrase endeared him to many.
, in the Scottish Borders
, in 1923 to a knitwear salesman from Loch Lomond
-side who had moved down to the area.
As a young boy, he was steeped in local rugby stories:
In his teenage years, McLaren grew up to be a useful flank forward
. He would later play for Hawick RFC
.
He served with the Royal Artillery
in Italy
during the Second World War, including the Battle of Monte Cassino
. He was used as a forward spotter
, and on one occasion was confronted by a mound of 1,500 corpses in an Italian churchyard, an unpleasant experience which never left him.
He played in a Scotland
trial in 1947 and was on the verge of a full international cap
before contracting tuberculosis
. The diseases nearly killed him and forced him to give up playing. He spent 19 months in a sanatorium
in East Fortune
(East Lothian
), where he was given an experimental drug, Streptomycin
, which saved his life. However, of the five patients given the drug, only two survived. While in the hospital, he began his broadcasting career, by commenting on table tennis
games on the hospital radio.
in Aberdeen
, and went on to teach PE in different schools throughout Scotland right through to 1987. He coached several Hawick youngsters who went on to play for Scotland
, including Jim Renwick
, Colin Deans
and Tony Stanger
.
McLaren's journalistic career started as a junior reporter with the Hawick Express. In 1953, he made his national debut for BBC Radio
, covering Scotland
's 12–0 loss to Wales
. He switched to television commentary six years later. McLaren was one of many post-war commentators who progressed from commentating on BBC Radio
to BBC Television
during the infancy of television broadcasting in the UK. These included Murray Walker
(motor racing/Formula One
), Peter O'Sullevan
(horse racing
), Harry Carpenter
(boxing
and rowing
), Dan Maskell
(tennis
), David Coleman
(athletics), Peter Alliss
(golf
) and John Arlott
(cricket
).
Recognition of his services came in November 2001, when he became the first non-international to be inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame
. He was awarded an MBE in 1992, an OBE in 1995 and a CBE in the 2003 honours list. A Facebook group, backed by over 6,000 members, was campaigning to gain a knighthood for McLaren.
McLaren also featured as a commentator on the video games Jonah Lomu Rugby
and EA Rugby 2001, and also did voice work for Telewest Communications.
During his final commentary, Wales v Scotland in 2002, the crowd sang "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow" and one Welsh
supporter displayed a banner claiming "Bill McLaren is Welsh".
After retirement, McLaren wrote the book Rugby's Great Heroes and Entertainers in 2003.
In later life, McLaren contracted Alzheimer's
, a tragedy for someone renowned for his excellent memory.
. They had five grandchildren, including Scotland scrum-half and Gloucester
player Rory Lawson
and Edinburgh's Jim Thompson
.
His funeral took place on 25 January at Teviot Church in Hawick, followed by a private burial at the town's Wellogate Cemetery after his hearse was applauded through the town of Hawick
by hundreds of well-wishers who lined the streets to pay their respects to the "Voice of Rugby".
, Michael Lynagh
, Danie Gerber
and David Campese
, both in the broader selection and the final XV, amongst these are:
has been set up in Bill's name, with the support of his family, to serve three purposes :
The Foundation was officially launched at Murrayfield Stadium
on 4 March 2010.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
commentator
Sportscaster
In sports broadcasting, a commentator gives a running commentary of a game or event in real time, usually during a live broadcast. The comments are normally a voiceover, with the sounds of the action and spectators also heard in the background. In the case of television commentary, the commentator...
, teacher, journalist and one time rugby player. Until his retirement in 2002, he was known as 'the voice of rugby'. Renowned throughout the sport, his enthusiasm and a memorable turn of phrase endeared him to many.
Early life
McLaren was born in HawickHawick
Hawick is a town in the Scottish Borders of south east Scotland. It is south-west of Jedburgh and south-southeast of Selkirk. It is one of the farthest towns from the sea in Scotland, in the heart of Teviotdale, and the biggest town in the former county of Roxburghshire. Hawick's architecture is...
, in the Scottish Borders
Scottish Borders
The Scottish Borders is one of 32 local government council areas of Scotland. It is bordered by Dumfries and Galloway in the west, South Lanarkshire and West Lothian in the north west, City of Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian to the north; and the non-metropolitan counties of Northumberland...
, in 1923 to a knitwear salesman from Loch Lomond
Loch Lomond
Loch Lomond is a freshwater Scottish loch, lying on the Highland Boundary Fault. It is the largest lake in Great Britain by surface area. The lake contains many islands, including Inchmurrin, the largest fresh-water island in the British Isles, although the lake itself is smaller than many Irish...
-side who had moved down to the area.
As a young boy, he was steeped in local rugby stories:
- "I was brought up on stories of the great Scottish players of the twenties, many of whom I never saw play but knew all about... I used to go with my father to see matches at a very early age, the great Hawick heroes including Willie WelshWillie WelshWilliam "Willie" Berridge Welsh was a Scottish international rugby union player, and later rugby league player, who played for and the Lions....
, Jock Beattie and Jerry Foster, so I had an all-consuming desire to wear the green jersey of Hawick."
In his teenage years, McLaren grew up to be a useful flank forward
Flanker (rugby union)
A flanker is a position in the sport of rugby union. Flankers play in the forwards, and are generally classified as either blindside, or openside flankers; numbers six and seven respectively. The name comes from their position in a scrum in which they flank each set of forwards...
. He would later play for Hawick RFC
Hawick RFC
Hawick Rugby Football Club is a semi-professional rugby union side, currently playing in the Premiership Division One and Border League. The team are based at Mansfield Park at Hawick in the Scottish Borders....
.
He served with the Royal Artillery
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
during the Second World War, including the Battle of Monte Cassino
Battle of Monte Cassino
The Battle of Monte Cassino was a costly series of four battles during World War II, fought by the Allies against Germans and Italians with the intention of breaking through the Winter Line and seizing Rome.In the beginning of 1944, the western half of the Winter Line was being anchored by Germans...
. He was used as a forward spotter
Artillery observer
A military artillery observer or spotter is responsible for directing artillery fire and close air support onto enemy positions. Because artillery is an indirect fire weapon system, the guns are rarely in line-of-sight of their target, often located tens of miles away...
, and on one occasion was confronted by a mound of 1,500 corpses in an Italian churchyard, an unpleasant experience which never left him.
He played in a Scotland
Scotland national rugby union team
The Scotland national rugby union team represent Scotland in international rugby union. Rugby union in Scotland is administered by the Scottish Rugby Union. The Scotland rugby union team is currently ranked eighth in the IRB World Rankings as of 19 September 2011...
trial in 1947 and was on the verge of a full international cap
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
before contracting tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
. The diseases nearly killed him and forced him to give up playing. He spent 19 months in a sanatorium
Sanatorium
A sanatorium is a medical facility for long-term illness, most typically associated with treatment of tuberculosis before antibiotics...
in East Fortune
East Fortune
East Fortune is a village in East Lothian, Scotland, located 2 miles north west of East Linton. The area is known for its airfield which was constructed in 1915 to help protect Britain from attack by German Zeppelin airships during the First World War. The RNAS airship station also included an...
(East Lothian
East Lothian
East Lothian is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, and a lieutenancy Area. It borders the City of Edinburgh, Scottish Borders and Midlothian. Its administrative centre is Haddington, although its largest town is Musselburgh....
), where he was given an experimental drug, Streptomycin
Streptomycin
Streptomycin is an antibiotic drug, the first of a class of drugs called aminoglycosides to be discovered, and was the first antibiotic remedy for tuberculosis. It is derived from the actinobacterium Streptomyces griseus. Streptomycin is a bactericidal antibiotic. Streptomycin cannot be given...
, which saved his life. However, of the five patients given the drug, only two survived. While in the hospital, he began his broadcasting career, by commenting on table tennis
Table tennis
Table tennis, also known as ping-pong, is a sport in which two or four players hit a lightweight, hollow ball back and forth using table tennis rackets. The game takes place on a hard table divided by a net...
games on the hospital radio.
Career
McLaren studied Physical EducationPhysical education
Physical education or gymnastics is a course taken during primary and secondary education that encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting....
in Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
, and went on to teach PE in different schools throughout Scotland right through to 1987. He coached several Hawick youngsters who went on to play for Scotland
Scotland national rugby union team
The Scotland national rugby union team represent Scotland in international rugby union. Rugby union in Scotland is administered by the Scottish Rugby Union. The Scotland rugby union team is currently ranked eighth in the IRB World Rankings as of 19 September 2011...
, including Jim Renwick
Jim Renwick
Jim Renwick was one of Scotland's greatest rugby players, usually at centre. He played for Hawick Harlequins RFC and the full Hawick RFC team, and the British Lions, 1972–84. He earned 52 caps for his country. Allan Massie thinks his 1981-82 international season was his best, and describes...
, Colin Deans
Colin Deans
Colin Thomas Deans born on 3 May 1955 in Hawick in the Scottish borders was a rugby union player with Hawick RFC and . His nickname was the Hawick Hooker.He made his debut against in 1978 when Scotland lost, 16 - 19...
and Tony Stanger
Tony Stanger
Anthony George Stanger is a former Scottish international rugby union player, and is Scotland's joint record try scorer....
.
McLaren's journalistic career started as a junior reporter with the Hawick Express. In 1953, he made his national debut for BBC Radio
BBC Radio
BBC Radio is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927. For a history of BBC radio prior to 1927 see British Broadcasting Company...
, covering Scotland
Scotland national rugby union team
The Scotland national rugby union team represent Scotland in international rugby union. Rugby union in Scotland is administered by the Scottish Rugby Union. The Scotland rugby union team is currently ranked eighth in the IRB World Rankings as of 19 September 2011...
's 12–0 loss to Wales
Wales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
. He switched to television commentary six years later. McLaren was one of many post-war commentators who progressed from commentating on BBC Radio
BBC Radio
BBC Radio is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927. For a history of BBC radio prior to 1927 see British Broadcasting Company...
to BBC Television
BBC Television
BBC Television is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation. The corporation, which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927, has produced television programmes from its own studios since 1932, although the start of its regular service of television...
during the infancy of television broadcasting in the UK. These included Murray Walker
Murray Walker
Graeme Murray Walker, OBE is a former Formula One motorsport commentator...
(motor racing/Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
), Peter O'Sullevan
Peter O'Sullevan
Sir Peter O'Sullevan is a retired horse racing commentator for the BBC from 1947 to 1997, and correspondent for the Press Association, Daily Express and Today.-Early life:...
(horse racing
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
), Harry Carpenter
Harry Carpenter
Harry Leonard Carpenter OBE was a British BBC sports commentator broadcasting from the early 1950s until his retirement in 1994. His speciality was boxing...
(boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
and rowing
Rowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
), Dan Maskell
Dan Maskell
Daniel "Dan" Maskell was an English tennis player, who later became even better known as a radio and television commentator on the game, and was known as the BBC's "voice of tennis"....
(tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
), David Coleman
David Coleman
David Coleman, OBE is an English former sports commentator and TV presenter who worked for the BBC for almost fifty years. In 2000, he was awarded the Olympic Order, the highest honour of the Olympic movement....
(athletics), Peter Alliss
Peter Alliss
Peter Alliss is an English professional golfer, BBC television presenter and commentator, author and golf course designer. Alliss is known for his charismatic and unique style of commentary, often displaying a witty demeanour...
(golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
) and John Arlott
John Arlott
Leslie Thomas John Arlott OBE was an English journalist, author and cricket commentator for the BBC's Test Match Special. He was also a poet, wine connoisseur and former police officer in Hampshire...
(cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
).
Recognition of his services came in November 2001, when he became the first non-international to be inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame
International Rugby Hall of Fame
The International Rugby Hall of Fame is a hall of fame for rugby union. It was created in 1997 in New Zealand and is run as a charitable trust with an address at Chiswick in London. Most of the trustees are also inductees. IRHOF accepts new inductees every two years...
. He was awarded an MBE in 1992, an OBE in 1995 and a CBE in the 2003 honours list. A Facebook group, backed by over 6,000 members, was campaigning to gain a knighthood for McLaren.
McLaren also featured as a commentator on the video games Jonah Lomu Rugby
Jonah Lomu Rugby
Jonah Lomu Rugby is a computer and video game released in 1997. It was developed by Codemasters and published by Rage Software. It was released on the PC, PlayStation and Sega Saturn. Its title is a reference to noted All Blacks winger Jonah Lomu....
and EA Rugby 2001, and also did voice work for Telewest Communications.
During his final commentary, Wales v Scotland in 2002, the crowd sang "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow" and one Welsh
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
supporter displayed a banner claiming "Bill McLaren is Welsh".
After retirement, McLaren wrote the book Rugby's Great Heroes and Entertainers in 2003.
In later life, McLaren contracted Alzheimer's
Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death...
, a tragedy for someone renowned for his excellent memory.
Family
He was married to Bette. His son-in-law is former rugby scrum half Alan LawsonAlan Lawson
Alan Lawson was born on 19 May 1948 in Kirkcaldy is a retired Scottish rugby union player. He played scrum-half for Scotland on 15 occasions between 1972 and 1980...
. They had five grandchildren, including Scotland scrum-half and Gloucester
Gloucester RFC
Gloucester Rugby are a professional English rugby union club situated in the west country city of Gloucester. The club plays in the domestic Aviva Premiership...
player Rory Lawson
Rory Lawson
Rory Lawson is a Scottish international rugby union player who currently plays for Gloucester Rugby as a Scrum Half. He attended Dollar Academy where he captained the school's 1st XV. After a number of years playing amateur rugby for Heriots he then took a professional contract with Edinburgh...
and Edinburgh's Jim Thompson
Jim Thompson (rugby union)
Jim Thompson is a Scottish rugby union player. He currently plays at Fullback and Centre for Edinburgh Rugby who compete in the Celtic League and Heineken Cup....
.
Death
McLaren died on 19 January 2010 at the age of 86 in his home town of Hawick.His funeral took place on 25 January at Teviot Church in Hawick, followed by a private burial at the town's Wellogate Cemetery after his hearse was applauded through the town of Hawick
Hawick
Hawick is a town in the Scottish Borders of south east Scotland. It is south-west of Jedburgh and south-southeast of Selkirk. It is one of the farthest towns from the sea in Scotland, in the heart of Teviotdale, and the biggest town in the former county of Roxburghshire. Hawick's architecture is...
by hundreds of well-wishers who lined the streets to pay their respects to the "Voice of Rugby".
Bill McLaren's World XV
Bill McLaren chooses a "World XV" at the end of his autobiography, Talking of Rugby. Although this list has been criticised for having a Northern Hemisphere bias, McLaren says that he chose it mainly on the basis of who he'd enjoy to watch playing, rather than dull but efficient players. This list is from just after the 1991 Grand Slam. It includes several Scottish players, amongst the likes of Nick Farr-JonesNick Farr-Jones
Nicholas Campbell Farr-Jones is a former Australian rugby union footballer. His position was scrum-half. He attended Newington College and St Andrew's College within the University of Sydney...
, Michael Lynagh
Michael Lynagh
Michael Lynagh is a former Australian rugby union footballer who played as a Fly-half.Lynagh represented Australia from 1984 to 1995, playing at both inside centre and fly half. Lynagh was capped 72 times for Australia, and was captain from 1993 to 1995. He was the world points scoring record...
, Danie Gerber
Danie Gerber
Danie Gerber is a former South African rugby union player, who played for South Africa between 1980 and 1992. Playing mainly at centre, he won only 24 caps for South Africa despite playing internationally for 12 years because of South Africa's sporting isolation caused by apartheid...
and David Campese
David Campese
David Ian Campese , also known as Campo, is a former Australian rugby union player. Campese was capped by the Wallabies 101 times, and held the world record for the most tries in test matches until Daisuke Ohata scored his 65th try playing for Japan on 14 May 2006...
, both in the broader selection and the final XV, amongst these are:
- Andy Irvine
- Douglas ElliotDouglas ElliotDouglas Elliot also known as W.I.D. Elliot and Doug Elliot is a former Scottish international rugby union player, who played for . He was capped 29 times for Scotland between 1947-54...
- Jim RenwickJim RenwickJim Renwick was one of Scotland's greatest rugby players, usually at centre. He played for Hawick Harlequins RFC and the full Hawick RFC team, and the British Lions, 1972–84. He earned 52 caps for his country. Allan Massie thinks his 1981-82 international season was his best, and describes...
- Ian McGeechanIan McGeechanSir Ian Robert McGeechan OBE is a Scottish former rugby union player and coach. His nickname is "Geech".-Playing career:...
- Iain LaughlandIain LaughlandIan Hugh Page Laughland was a Scottish rugby player, who played for and London Scottish FC. He was a fly half, and took over from Gordon Waddell. He was capped 31 times between 1959-1967.McLaren says of a game against in 1960...
- David Johnston
- Sandy CarmichaelSandy CarmichaelAlexander Bennett Carmichael was a tighthead prop forward who played for West of Scotland R.F.C. and earned 50 caps in the Scotland national rugby union team from 1967 to 1978, which was a record for a Scottish forward at the time...
- Hugh McLeod
- Ian McLauchlanIan McLauchlanJohn "Ian" McLauchlan is a former Scottish John "Ian" McLauchlan is a former [[Scotland|Scottish]] John "Ian" McLauchlan is a former [[Scotland|Scottish]] [[rugby union] playerer...
Bill McLaren Foundation
The Bill McLaren FoundationBill McLaren Foundation
The Bill McLaren Foundation has been set up in Bill McLaren’s name, with the support of his family, to serve three purposes :* To develop and promote the sport of rugby union and its values* To encourage and provide sporting opportunities for young people...
has been set up in Bill's name, with the support of his family, to serve three purposes :
- To develop and promote the sport of rugby union and its values
- To encourage and provide sporting opportunities for young people
- To create an educative centre which will include the Bill McLaren Archive
The Foundation was officially launched at Murrayfield Stadium
Murrayfield Stadium
Murrayfield Stadium is a sports stadium located in the west end of Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. Its all-seater capacity was recently reduced from 67,800 to 67,130 to incorporate the largest permanent "big screen" in the country though it still remains the largest stadium in Scotland and one...
on 4 March 2010.
See also
- Scottish rugby commentators and journalistsScottish rugby commentators and journalists-TV commentators:The most famous of TV commentators until recently was Bill McLaren, a Scotsman from Hawick and one of world rugby's best-loved personalities. He retired in 2002 and died in 2010....
- Scotland national rugby union teamScotland national rugby union teamThe Scotland national rugby union team represent Scotland in international rugby union. Rugby union in Scotland is administered by the Scottish Rugby Union. The Scotland rugby union team is currently ranked eighth in the IRB World Rankings as of 19 September 2011...
External links
- A reluctant legend - Nigel Starmer-Smith pays tribute to his colleague
- Bill McLaren: Legendary 'Voice of Rugby' was a family man above all (The Scotsman)
- Facebook Campaign - Facebook knighthood campaign
- Obituary - The Guardian
- Obituary - The Times
- Obituary - The Telegraph
- Profile on Scrum dot com
- Bill McLaren Foundation - The Bill McLaren Foundation