Rangers ‘ great man’ Davis set benchmark for courage in the face of adversity
On 10 May, on what would have been his 86th birthday, a beautiful bespoke bench was unveiled in memory of Rangers legend Harold Davis at Gairloch Golf club.
It was placed near the spot where the Great Man – as he was known by locals – was laid to rest in July last year. The inscription on the bench identifies a man of parts. It reads: “Husband, father, soldier, Ranger, fisherman, hotelier, fundraiser, friend.” The bench is positioned at the fourth hole – the number of
the Rangers jersey he graced for eight trophy- laden years.
It is a world away from the noise and fury of Ibrox, which hosted an Old Firm game a couple of days later. Some of those there that day could perhaps do with some silent retrospection.
Davis moved to the north west in the mid- 1970s and stayed there for the rest of his life. He yearned to live there having fallen in love with the area on a fishing trip during his Rangers days. Of course, the fact he ever played for Rangers is miraculous in itself since he had his insides and foot shredded by a bullet while serving in the Black Watch in the Korean War.
A loud section of Rangers supporters faced deserved criticism for their songbook last weekend. But if there’s a more proactive, well- intentioned fans’ group than the Rangers Supporters’ Erskine Appeal ( RSEA) operating in football I’d like to hear about it. The money for the bench was raised by the RSEA, who organised a crowdfunding page which was designed to run for four weeks.
Summing up the regard in which Davis is held, the £ 1000 target was surpassed in eight hours and the excess money has been put towards buying a trophy bearing his name for a ladies’ competition at the golf club.
Of course, the RSEA have form for raising funds. With Davis as patron ( his widow, Vi, is now carrying the torch), they have raised over £ 850,000 for war veterans and are on course to break the £ 1 million barrier next year. It’s a remarkable effort in just over a decade.