Obituary: Walter Peggie; Cricket club’s finest ever player who went on to run a successful business and a pub

Scottish cricket has lost one of its well-known characters with the death of Walter Peggie of  Falkland, at the age of 78. Walter had been unwell for some time but the end was sudden and came as a severe blow to family, friends and cricketers across the country.

Walter was arguably Falkland Cricket Club’s finest ever player, with his career spanning 36 years from 1949 to 1985. When he retired from the game at the age of 51 he had taken more than 1,000 wickets and scored more than 6,000 runs.

His bowling statistics were truly remarkable: he had bowled more than 4,900 overs, 1,599 of which were maidens, and taken 1,062 wickets at an  average of 10.5.

Walter also took all ten  wickets for six runs in a match in 1975 against Coupar Angus.

Walter was born in 1934 and was brought up in Falkland, where his family had always lived. Both his father and grandfather were keen followers of cricket, his grandfather umpiring for a time, and from them Walter gained an interest that turned into a life-long passion.

Walter started playing at the age of 14, batting at No 11 under the captaincy of Bob Nellies. Falkland had only one team at that time but when a 2nd XI was started in the early 1950s, he soon established himself as an all-rounder in the side.

He served as club captain  during the 1960s and 1970s and also made a significant contribution to the club off the field. He was made an honorary life member in 1979.

Walter was also a keen footballer of some note, playing for Newburgh, Jeanfield Swifts and Lomond Vics. He played several times for the Scotland ATC team.

Outside of sport he was a skilled tradesman. He served his apprenticeship as a slater and plasterer and then took over the running of the family business from his father. He also became mine host of the Stag Inn in Falkland, where you were always assured of a warm and friendly welcome and to be the recipient of some generous hospitality.

Although being ill, Walter never complained and would always consider others before himself. Last summer he was still a regular visitor to Scroggie Park, home of Falkland CC, providing encouragement and support to his grandsons Scott, Steven and Joe, who all play the game he loved so dearly.

Walter was very likeable and sociable, making friends on and off the cricket field. Falkland Cricket Club and Scottish cricket will be so much poorer for the loss of Walter Peggie.

He married Helen (née Reekie) in 1958 and is survived by her, his brother George, sister Jean and his children Linda, Elaine and Craig in addition to seve grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

ROBBIE NELLIES