‘A Bill Mclaren museum within Hawick’s new facility would certainly enhance the project’
HAWICK’S GRAND PLAN REVEALED: Late commentator’s home town club aiming to put his archives on permanent display
Hawick are aiming to open a dedicated Bill Mclaren museum as part of a plan to modernise their Mansfield Park home and celebrate the commentator’s enduring legacy.
The Borders club has acquired funding to carry out a £35,000 feasibility study into the project, with results expected in March 2021.
It aims to replace the existing stand, built in 1956, with a facility that can support a range of community events and accommodate am useum to celebrate the life of the town’s world-famous rugby commentator.
John Thorburn, the club secretary and trustee of the Bill Mclaren Foundation, says a museum for Mclaren’s rich archive material, including commentary notes and memorabilia, is long overdue.
He explained: “It is too early to say what it may entail or look like – that’s what the feasibility study is for – but one of the objectives of the foundation is to create an educative centre, including his archives.
“A museum within the new facility and with his name would certainly enhance the overall project.”
Remembered as ‘ the voice of rugby’, Mclaren was also proud of his home town and club. Hawick born and bred, he played for the club, taught at the high school and and had a bust built in is home town after his death in 2010.
He was also renowned throughout the sport, his enthusiasm and memorable turn of phrase endearing him to fans across the globe.
He did his first live commentary on a game between Glasgow and Edinburgh in 1952 and retired in 2002, at the age of 78, blowing the final whistle on 50 years of commentating for the BBC.
His legacy has lived on through the foundation set up in his name and trustees believe a permanent museum within his home town club would be the ideal way to make his archive collection available to rugby fans.
The Greens, once the dominant force in Scottish club rugby, also hope a modern, inspirational facility will futureproof its production line of 65 players who have gone on to play for Scotland.
The current squad includes three Hawick graduates – Stuart Hogg, Darcy Graham and Rory Sutherland. The women’s squad also has two players from Hawi ck–Lisa Thomson and Lana Skeldon.
Club president Neil Hamilton said .“As a club we produced 65 caps from the men’s and women’ s international teams, including three in the current men’s squad and two in the women’s, and we believe that these new plans will helps us achieve our aim of providing a further 65 capped players in the future.
“Among the facilities in the new stand will be space for the Bill Mclaren Foundation’s museum, new changing facilities and space for community events. A key part of the study is to guarantee we engage with ever yone in the communit y to ensure the new stand will cater for a wide range of needs.
“This will include increasing our support for disabled, children’s and women’s rugby, while also expanding the audience through new versions of the game, such as Teri Touch, which can include children and grandparents playing in the same team. This is a fantastic opportunity and one the community should grasp.”