John Hamilton

Wednesday 9th July 2014

Sad loss of ‘outstanding servant’ John Hamilton

We are sad to report the death of John Hamilton, a dedicated athlete, official and administrator within athletics throughout his life.

John started running in the Edinburgh Rover Scouts and is recorded as having won a National U17 team silver medal when he finished 8th in 1952.

When the Rover Scouts morphed into Braidburn AC John followed them and ran in the Edinburgh to Glasgow Relay, a race he loved dearly, for the first time in 1954.

However, it is as an official and administrator that John proved to be an outstanding servant of scottishathletics at both Club and National level.

John joined the Club for which he is known, Teviotdale Harriers, when he moved to Hawick for work purposes in 1957. He served as President and Treasurer on numerous occasions. From 1964 he represented Teviotdale Harriers on the East District Cross Country Committee and took over as chairman in from 1963 to 1967. These duties entailed serving on the Scottish Cross Country General Committee where he became President for the 1969-70 season.

After his Presidential year, John served as Honorary Assistant Secretary from 1972-9. Not content with all that John took over as the International team manager in 1979 for the rest of the years that Scotland ran as a separate team in the World Championships.

While John’s first love may have been Cross Country he was also an enthusiastic follower of Track and Field Athletics. He represented the club on the Scottish Borders A.A.A. where he was President on several occasions.

After serving many years on the S.A.A.A. General Committee he was elected as President in 1981. Furthermore at the 1986 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh John was the Assistant Team Manager for the Scottish Team.

John was an Honorary Life Member of SAL and in 1988 was awarded the prestigious Tom Stillie Award by the S.A.A.A. for his contribution to the sport.

People in our sport that knew John will remember a modest, well-mannered, good humoured contributor with a sharp mind. As Team Manager he was liked and respected by the athletes and left his peers wishing there were more like him.

The funeral will take place at Trinity Church, Hawick TD9 9BL at 11.45 and at 1pm at Melrose Crematorium TD6 9HA on Monday 14 July.

Ron Morrison

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