May
05
Gordon Duff
by Harry Pincott
It is with deep regret that Boroughmuir announce the death of one of our longest serving club members, Gordon Duff.
To say that Boroughmuir have lost one of their most popular members is a huge understatement. Duffy and I first came into contact when we played for the same 1st year team at Boroughmuir Secondary School, as it was known about 68 years ago.
Meggetland was a second home to us and down the years Duffy served the club as a player - well sort of as he made keeping his shorts white and pristine into an art which meant never being tackled - kit man, committee man, and touch-judge who helped the club win quite a few games.
I could write a book about Duffy, around whom things were always happening.
As well as Boroughmuir, Duffy was also a founder member of the Edinburgh Golden Oldies RFC, who travelled the world causing mayhem, Vancouver and Texas are highlights.
Duffy, a TV engineer for most of his working days, also played a mean game of golf, being a longstanding member of Prestonfield Golf Club and he was also proud of the fact that he and I ran the first Edinburgh Marathon in 1982 and then completed the London Marathon the next year. The times meant nothing to him, he just meandered round the course, talking to anyone who would listen to him, even Rod Hull and Emu -the picture of the three of them ending up in one of the papers on the Monday!
Over the past 20 years, and much of the last 15 being spent in a wheelchair, Duffy was given both dedicated and devoted care by Ellen, whom he married in 1967, and who was also a loyal member of the club. In the latter years, the pair of them spent many games watching from out on the balcony, no matter how wet and windy it was. If anyone deserves a Distinguished Medal of Service, it’s Ellen.
The greatest pleasure Gordon got in his last few years was being greeted and acknowledged by not only Boroughmuir members, but also by the friends he had made from other clubs. Everyone knew Duffy.
Unfortunately, because of Covid 19 Gordon will not get the send-off he truly deserves, but rest assured he will at some future date.
Harry Pincott
An extended version of this tribute will appear in the Buzz and we'll also include Gordon's funeral arrangements.
