Heartfelt tributes to Easton Roy, legend of Bridgehaugh
Mourners in County colours say farewell
Mourners have paid their respects to the world’s oldest amateur rugby player - Stirling County stalwart Easton Roy who has died at the age of 97.
Easton was a legendary figure around Bridgehaugh and more than 100 people paid tribute at his funeral on Monday.
The Cambusbarron man represented County since the 1950s, sporting the red, black and white as recently as his 96th birthday last year against a Welsh touring team of mixed ability players Swansea Gladiators, making him the world’s oldest amateur rugby player.
Tributes flooded in when news emerged of Mr Roy’s passing earlier this month, including from Scottish legend John Jeffrey, who described him as “the embodiment of why so many of us love rugby” and as an “ultimate champion of our game”.
On what proved to be a wet July afternoon, more than 100 people tuned out in their club colours to say a final farewell.
The club threw open its gates on Monday for mourners to pay their respects in the car park, whilst adhering to social distancing.
Long-time friend, John Henderson, addressed the mourners, paying heartfelt tribute to Easton. The ceremony, which saw representatives from rugby clubs across Scotland attend, was followed by a private burial ceremony for family.
A former roofer, it was only at the age of 21 that Easton took up rugby when he was in the RAF.
He joined Stirling County in the early 1950s and starred for the first team for 27 years before playing for County’s 2nd and 3rd XVS, the club’s Wolfhounds and several other ‘old crocks’ teams.
He went on to star in the over– 35s Golden Oldies World Cup at Murrayfield back in 2008 when his team, the Baggy Pipers, took on a side containing Scotland legend and former Lions skipper Gavin Hastings.
The very same year he was honoured with a local hero Stirling Civic Award at Stirling Castle for his contribution to sport and in 2018 was chieftain of Bridge of Allan Highland Games.
The embodiment of why so many of us love rugby