Dr Iain Todd

Scottish Rugby is saddened to learn of the death earlier today of past president Dr Iain Todd.  He was 92.Dr Todd was President in season 1995-96, a momentous year for rugby union as the game became professional at the start of that term.Scotland won three of their four games in the then Five Nations Championship that season, including a magnificent 19-14 home victory over France, to sit alongside successes in Dublin and Cardiff.Dr Todd had served on the Glasgow & District Rugby Union from the mid-1970s and was first elected to the SRU General Committee out of the Hillhead club in 1980.Hughenden was his spiritual home, as he could trace his lineage to the World War 1 memorial panel in the current Sports Club bar, where his uncle’s name was inscribed.On demob from the Army in 1947, he played for the first XV, but the pressures of family life and his work as a GP restricted his on-field contributions.His early committee life was as rugby secretary.  He also served as grounds convener and first XV touch-judge, ensuring he packed his kit bag with his playing gear without his wife, Isobel’s, knowledge, in case the team was ever short!In later years, Dr Todd was a faithful supporter of Hillhead/Jordanhill and was a regular at Hughenden throughout last season.He took great pride in 2014 in becoming one of the first inductees to the “Hills” legends and celebrated his 90th birthday in the clubhouse later that year.Hillhead/Jordanhill honorary president, Bernie Mitchell, said: “The club at Hughenden and the wider rugby community has lost a highly-respected member of its family.  But to Iain’s own family we all extend our sincere condolences.”Scottish Rugby echoes that sentiment.A private family cremation, followed by a service of thanksgiving, will be held at Drymen Parish Church, Drymen, at 1.30pm on Friday 11 August, to which all family and friends are invited. The family has requested no flowers and has advised that club ties may be worn.