Teacher, cricketer, journalist and after-dinner speaker

Born: May 9, 1951

Died: May 2 2017

SANDY Strang, who has died of pancreatic cancer aged 65, was a teacher, cricketer, journalist and after-dinner speaker whose death came as a shock to his many friends and acquaintances across Scotland and beyond. That a man with such a zest for life should be taken so suddenly, and far-too soon, has been shattering.

He was, it goes without saying – a Hutchie boy. Indeed, even after his bitter parting of the ways from that south-side establishment, many continued to think of him as “Mr Hutchie”. He gave most of his life to the Glasgow school.

As a Hutchesons Grammar School pupil, he climbed its Everest, Dux of the school in 1969. Off he went to Cambridge University to read English and Classics and to obtain a double “first” and a soccer “blue”, featuring at centre forward against Oxford University, at Wembley.

In his later life as a gifted and vastly entertaining after-dinner speaker, he would say the Cambridge Evening News described the young striker as: “Having the physique of a Greek statue, but, lacking the movement”. One sees that as a masterly piece of self-depreciation and typical of “The Strang”.

Cambridge did win the match, 1-0, so, Sandy is one of that small band of Scots who has tasted victory at Wembley.

Teacher training done, he returned to Hutchie, discovering the limits of his football talent during a short spell with Queen's Park, where this ultimate amateur – he played any game for the love of it – failed to make the first team. He was perhaps destined to be a fine “Stroller”. The great Eddie Hunter, in his inimitable way, watched Sandy play and told him: “Stick to the day job Son, whatever it is”. He was, however. still pulling on his boots into his forties, with Clydesdale Albion.

His other great sporting love, cricket, took him to Titwood, and Clydesdale Cricket Club, where he was a mainstay over 27 seasons, during which he scored 3903 runs at a respectable average of 25.67; his top score was an unbeaten 102 against Uddingston, in 1980.

A wicket-keeper batsman - “I'm like Michael Jackson, I wear gloves for no apparent reason”, he would joke - he was an aggressive stroke-player and captained 'dale over four seasons, 1976, 1983, 1991 and 1992.

With the club he enjoyed three Western Union championships, in 1973, 1977 and 1980 and appeared in eight Scottish Cup finals. Sadly, while he featured in several Western Union select sides, the Scottish selectors were oblivious to his talents.

He was heavily involved in Clydesdale's purchase of Titwood, and was a trustee of the ground. But, in time having become a fixture at the club he sought a new challenge. He enjoyed an Indian summer which lasted 12-years at Ferguslie, where he played in a record ninth Scottish Cup final. He was still featuring in first team games into his sixth decade. In those nine Scottish Cup finals, he was on the winning side six times.

He had short spells at Poloc and Kelburne, but had his illness not intervened, he had plans to play a guiding grand-father role in one of the Ferguslie minor sides.

Writing in the Fergulsie 125th anniversary book he said: “I have been accepted as a bona fide “Feegie” player, an honour I accept with a huge sense of this being a private blessing”.

He climbed the greasy pole at Hutchie. An inspirational teacher, and a strict disciplinarian, who rarely had to resort to the tawse, Mr Strang ruled his class-room with natural authority.

He eventually became depute rector at his beloved school, before departing in controversial circumstances in 2003, after a difference of opinion with a new headteacher and taking his case to the governors.

This was a low point in his life, although in his final months, there was a rapprochement and he gave a brilliant speech at the former pupils dinner back in December, but, his death prevented him being properly welcomed “home”.

After so long at the chalk face, he had to re-invent himself. He had long been an entertaining contributor to the Herald's Letters Page, so, he entered journalism.

He became a regular and incisive presence in press boxes; he wrote columns and he flourished in the Fourth Estate. However, there was to be one final twist. A fierce competitor from first ball to stumps being drawn, once the game was over, he became the finest of company, with his plethora of anecdotes and stories.

He began to accept invitations to speak at dinners. Soon, the word spread of what a good “turn” The Strang was and the demands became so great, he got himself an agent and sport's ultimate amateur became professional in his new career.

He would become one of the biggest names on the after-dinner, corporate-speaking circuit – handling every type of event from black tie corporate and charity dinners to the rowdiest of rugby club dinners, often out-shining fellow speakers who were bigger names. On his death he had commitments stretching into 2018. Indeed, once he was given the devastating news his illness was terminal, he spent a lot of time cancelling engagements, always apologising for what he felt was letting people down.

He was voted “Wag of the Year”, then “Wag of Wags”, but, the teaching instincts were never far away and he set up his own consultancy, concentrating on improving clients' communication skills.

He loved life and he loved people and since his death, many tales of his kindness in helping and mentoring others have emerged. Richard S Young, a fellow Hutchesonian, who was grateful for Sandy's mentoring and assistance as, whilst at school, he spent a lengthy spell in hospital, tells of persuading a reluctant Sandy to turn out for the Forty Club, cricket's biggest touring club.

“Sandy thought it might be “Mickey Mouse” cricket, but, he enjoyed playing with so many guys who had long been opponents and was hoping to play for us again this season – before his cruel illness”, says Richard.

The description “a gentleman and a scholar” summed up Sandy perfectly. He will be sorely missed and the respect in which he was held within Scottish cricket was reflected in the number of clubs who held a minute's silence in his memory before matches at the weekend.

Sandy, whose middle name, Liddell, reflects his relationship to the great Olympian Eric Liddell, was an only child. 

Hutchesons, Glasgow and Scotland has lost a remarkable one-off.

MATT VALLANCE