Hundreds pay last respects to ‘dad’ of Hercules Andy Robin.

Service in Auchterarder pays tribute to ex-wrestler, who will be buried alongside his beloved bear in Western Isles

Hundreds gathered to say goodbye to Scottish wrestling sensation Andy Robin, best known as the owner of world-famous grizzly bear Hercules.

Friends and family packed out Auchterarder Parish Church for the funeral of the “larger than life” 84-year-old, who died earlier this month.

The service began with the reading of an email sent to Andy’s wife Maggie from a friend in America.

It read: “What a guy. The world will miss him.”

Commonwealth wrestling champ Andy will be buried alongside his beloved bear in the Western Isles.

The Rev Iain Paton, who led the service, paid tribute to Andy’s life and career, and spoke of his adventures with Hercules throughout the 1970s and 80s.

“I visited him in hospital just a few days before he died and he was polite, charming and he was smiling throughout the visit,” he said.

“And I think that has always been the way.

“He was a big man, not just physically but in every sense of the word.”

Mourners heard Andy grew up in Stirling and moved to America to become a wrestler.

At Madison Square Gardens “he brought the house down with his antics, which easily complemented his skill”.

He moved back to Scotland, where he met Maggie.

“It was 1974 when he popped the question to Maggie,” said Mr Paton.

“And that question was, ‘what would you say if I wanted a bear cub?’”

He said Andy had been inspired after wrestling another bear, Terrible Ted, in Australia.

Nine-month-old Hercules was bought for £50 and picked up from the Highland Wildlife Park.

Andy, Maggie and Hercules became a family unit, Mr Paton said.

“Maggie told me that if there was ever a human like a bear it was Andy, and if there was ever a bear like a human it was Hercules.”

The service was reminded how Hercules had vanished in the Hebrides, while filming an advert for Kleenex.

“As everyone here will know, the bear got lost and was at large for three weeks,” said Mr Paton.

“And in many ways, that secured his place in the public eye.

“They went on to meet the great and the good: Bob Hope, Sean Connery, Sean Collins. They got a letter from the Queen and another from President Ronald Reagan.”

Mr Paton described Andy as a “tender-hearted man, especially with children”.

He said: “As we take leave of him now, we give God thanks for the fun, the entertainment and the love.”

The family invited the 350 mourners to make a donation to St Margaret’s Community Hospital, Auchterarder.

Pictures: Phil Hannah. From top left: Andy Robin’s coffin is carried from Auchterarder Parish Church; Andy’s image on the order of service; Andy’s wife Maggie outside the church; some of the mourners; and, left, Andy with grizzly bear Hercules.