Skilled diver took Scottish talent to the world stage

TRIBUTES have been paid to Bill Law, a leading light in Scottish and Edinburgh aquatics, who died aged 75.

Born just up the road from Glen Street in Tollcross, Mr Law was educated at Darroch School. After leaving school, he joined Cunningham Dickson and Walker as an apprentice glazier, where he worked for ten years.

With a fall in business, Mr Law was made redundant but, that same year, he was approached by Eric Pappin, the stepfather of Jim Hill, a Warrender Baths Club colleague, and joined the Scottish Insurance Corporation.

Mr Law continued his working life in insurance with Provincial Insurance and, latterly, with Bill Kidd in his insurance broking firm, having also served for a spell as a director and chairman of the Century Building Society.

In 1946, Mr Law joined Warrender Baths Club and was coached by Willie Porter. He showed an interest in diving and, with some help from the Boy's Brigade, he was directed to the East of Scotland Training Squad in HMS Caledonia, Rosyth, led by Jim Amos of Portobello.

Five years later he entered his first national competition, coming second in the 1-metre springboard.

In 1955, he competed in the British Championships and, in an entry of 30-35 divers, he made the finals. Three years later he was selected for the Scottish Commonwealth Games team in Cardiff.

Mr Law retired from competitive diving in 1962 and turned his hand to coaching and administration.

He became president of Warrender and the Edinburgh Diving Club and, until his death, was honorary president of both clubs.

He was director of diving events at the 1970 and 1986 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh and he was team manager at the Olympic Games in 1992.

Mr Law was awarded life membership of the Edinburgh Diving Club, Warrender, and of the Scottish Amateur Swimming Association.

"Without his involvement, Scotland would have had little or no representation on diving's world stage," said Jane Ogden, the Scottish National Diving Convener.

Mr Law's other pastime was golf. He was a member of Lochend, Corstorphine 8.30 and his beloved Duddingston. He was captain of both Duddingston and Corstorphine, and president of the Society of Edinburgh and Lothians Golf Club Captains, and was given life memberships at them all.

Last year Mr Law received the highest accolade from European Swimming when he was awarded the LEN Silver pin, in recognition of his services to European Diving.

Mr Law is survived by his wife, Marion and children, Suzanne, Fiona and David.