Obituary: Bill Hogg OBE, rugby administrator

Published on Wednesday 2 February 2011 13:24

Ian Alisdair Lawrence 'Bill' Hogg OBE, rugby administrator. Born: 13 June, 1940, in Edinburgh. Died: 31 January, 2011, in Edinburgh, aged 70.

ONE tries to avoid the clich of people having no enemies when reflecting on a life because it is so rarely accurate, but to have met Bill Hogg is to realise that there are some characters who can go through life with principles that never fall.

That may seem absurd in the heady world of Scottish rugby, in particular, and when one recounts that Hogg worked at Murrayfield through controversial amateur times and the explosive introduction of professionalism, but the profound and far-reaching sense of loss that has followed his sudden death on Monday reveals the strength of feeling that he attracted.

He was born Ian Alisdair Lawrence Hogg in Edinburgh in 1940, although the full name took a day or two to arrive. The name "Bill" came from a nurse who thought he "looked like a Bill" while his parents James and Fiona deliberated, and despite the fact that they opted for "Ian", the nickname "Bill" stuck.

Rugby was always going to be a passion for Hogg and his younger brothers Brian and Douglas as their father, JIL Hogg, had played on the wing for Watsonians, captained Edinburgh and earned a Scotland trial.

Hogg attended George Watson's College, playing rugby and cricket at school, going on to coach the Watsonians team, and to become club treasurer, sports club convener and even "head tea lady".

He left school for Edinburgh University, where he gained an MA in Scottish history and archaeology, and also met the love of his life, Louise Sinclair, on a blind date at the university's President's Ball. She worked at a city law firm and they were married in Barclay Bruntsfield Church in 1967, setting up home in Mayfield Road.

The family grew when Fiona Jane Louise was born in 1971 and Alisdair James Sinclair came along in 1972. Hogg, having turned to accountancy, had by then begun working for the firm Robertson Maxtone-Graham, based in Charlotte Square, which would later become McLintocks and now PWC.

It was with the Scottish Rugby Union (SRU) that Hogg became a popular figure far beyond Scotland, however.He joined the SRU as treasurer in 1978-79 and succeeded John Law as secretary in 1983, before taking on the additional role of chief executive from season 1992 until 1998, during which the game changed suddenly and dramatically from amateur to professional in 1995.

He was in charge of the Scotland team affairs for 14 years, which included the historic Grand Slam achievements of 1984 and 1990, was the manager's assistant at the Rugby World Cups in 1987, 1991 and 1995, as well as on the Scotland tours of New Zealand in 1990 and North America in 1991, and represented Scotland on the International Rugby Board, European Rugby Cup and Six Nations Committee.

He retired from the SRU in June 2005 but continued to support and advise, a man from a traditional era, perhaps, but an administrator of integrity, knowledge and perspicacity who remained invaluable.

Hogg also shared his love of Scottish culture and community with Louise and the family. He taught Sunday School at his church, Mayfield Salisbury, and was an enthusiastic member of the National Trust of Scotland, Historic Scotland, National Galleries and Edinburgh Zoological and Royal Scottish Academy.

He was delighted when his daughter Jane wed Troon man Mark Yates in 2005 and they had girls Beth and Evie, and the trips he enjoyed with Jane and Alisdair growing up became a new, enchanted experience with the grandchildren, in visits to Edinburgh Zoo, Tantallon Castle, the Festival Theatre, Usher Hall and other city locations.

He once brought home a shirt for Beth to join the Borders rugby team's supporters club, but did not take her to a game, insisting: "She wouldn't understand 30 men fighting over a ball."

But despite all the politics and in-fighting he had to deal with, through nearly 30 years at the top of Scottish rugby, and the criticism levelled at the organisation as a result, his passion for the game never seemed to dwindle.

He was awarded an OBE in 2006 for his services to rugby, remained a referee right up until Christmas - he was awarded a special honour by George Watson's College for 50 years of consecutive refereeing just over two years ago - and was the match commissioner for European Cup matches as recently as last month.

Bill was diagnosed with cancer in 2007, and was typically unhappy that it should interrupt a World Cup year. Nevertheless, he underwent an operation that removed the growth and was given the all-clear.He suffered a fall before Christmas while out walking, but again rallied and was given the thumbs-up by his doctor, which adds to the shock of his death now.

Bill was a quiet man, one who strove to avoid the limelight, but a very generous individual, contributing regularly to a wide number of charities and supplying tickets to international matches that many, including family members, long believed he had been afforded through his position at the SRU, when he had, in fact, paid for them.

He was generous with his time, chairing the Murrayfield Centenary Trust that raised and distributed funds to injured rugby players, as well as his many other roles in rugby and across the community.

Bill Hogg just got along, diligently, with dignity and good humour.

It is hard to recollect coming across an individual who was as straight down the middle; a wholly incorruptible man.

That is where the loss is being felt now, with former players, coaches, presidents, supporters and friends, close and distant, speaking in the past two days about how much they looked up to him.

It is unlikely Bill Hogg ever appreciated how far his friendship and the respect for him reached, and when the funeral congregation gathers in the main chapel at Mortonhall next Tuesday for the 11am service, and afterwards at Myreside, the numbers will be only a fraction of the many people he served and touched.