72 years of loyalty, only national service kept Jack from tournament

JACK Dun has been married to his beloved wife, Jean, for an impressive 56 years.

However, that’s small fry when you consider he’s been devoted to his first love, Melrose, for 30 years longer.

Dun’s dedication to The Greenyards cause has been unwavering since he was born in the tiny Borders town some 86 years ago. And as an estimated 10,000 people get set to swell the 1700 population of Dun’s hometown for the day for the eagerly anticipated 122nd Aberdeen Asset Management Melrose Sevens, the pensioner will proudly chalk up his 72nd appearance at the tournament.

Teams from all over the Borders, Singapore, Hong Kong Scottish, London Scottish and even current Aviva Premiership champions Saracens compete in a fast paced tournament that was originally dreamed up purely as a one-off fund-raiser by Melrose Rugby Club duo Ned Haig and David Sanderson in 1883.

Little could those local butchers know that 129 years on, their idea would still be bringing such unbridled joy to so many, not least of all Octogenarian Dun.

A former player, coach, referee and club official, he moved home just a few years ago because he couldn’t get a good enough view of his hallowed turf from his bedroom window.

He now lives a stone’s throw away from the ground that has become his second home and won’t even cross the road to pay his annual visit to the Aberdeen Asset Management Melrose Sevens. It’s a far cry from the 5,000 miles that separated him from Melrose as he served his two years’ military service in Bombay, India – cursing his mum for her overdue letter with news of the tournament.

“I once had to wait a whole month to find out who won the Melrose Sevens,” said the one-time 2nd Border Regiment member. “My mother Catherine would write to me every week in India with the latest news from back home, but her letter was held up.

“Every week I wondered where the letter was and how Melrose were doing. I couldn’t wait to open it when it finally got there.

“I never lost my love for Melrose or the tournament when I was in India. I missed my rugby and tried to read about it when I could. I’d get The Times of India and the first year I was out there I found out who won the Melrose Sevens the very next day through the newspaper. If only I’d had a newspaper the next year, I wouldn’t have had so long to wait.”

On his return to Scotland in 1948, Jack only had one thought on his mind – to pull on the black-and-yellow hoops of Melrose again.

Now a referee supervisor, Dun has the perfect excuse for refusing to do what many his age would do in settling for watching the fast-paced 15-minute games live on BBC.

He can’t become an armchair supporter because he has a duty to Melrose.

“As soon as I got back home (from India) I wanted to get back playing for Melrose,” said Jack. “It was different in those days. There weren’t any trials or talent scouts – you just turned up at the ground for training and if you were good enough you got picked.

“I played at scrum-half for eight seasons for Melrose and was captain in my last season. We had a good team. We won what was known as the unofficial championship in 1952 – now known as the Scottish League Championship – and the Borders League twice.

“When my playing days were over, I decided to become a referee. I did it for 17 years, then joined the Melrose Sevens committee 36 years ago, and was put in charge of the referees for the tournament. I still do that, but I’m now second in command!

“Nothing could keep me away from this tournament – it’s the highlight of my year. There is a real buzz of excitement around the whole town. Everyone loves it.

“My wife is used to my love for rugby. If she didn’t know how much I liked it when we married 56 years ago, she knows now!

“At least I don’t have so far to go. At our old house you could see the ground at the top of the hill but now I don’t even have to cross the road. I walk past St Mary’s School and I’m there. Melrose won it last year for the first time since 1998 and, while so many good teams are taking part, we could be on for it again.”

Martin Gilbert, chief executive of tournament sponsors Aberdeen Asset Management said: “To have attended 71 tournaments – the majority of them back-to-back – is an incredible achievement. Jack is an integral part of the organising committee and his knowledge of the game is second to none.”

l The Aberdeen Asset Management Melrose Sevens will be held at The Greenyards from 11.30am today. Tickets cost from £10 for children under 15, from £15 for senior citizens and between £20 and £40 for adults.