Rugby player and stalwart of Grangemouth RFC
Born: November 25, 1934;
Died: December 7, 2017
IAN Ormiston, who has died aged 83, was a popular player and captain of Grangemouth Rugby Club and without doubt the best player the club ever produced. He was also the most dedicated and respected of members and held virtually every position possible in the organisation.
Born Ian Alastair Ormiston in Bridge of Allan, the youngest of five children, he attended the High School of Stirling, but by his own admittance, preferred sport to his academic subjects. His was a happy and pleasant childhood, often spent hiking, climbing and biking, and the young Ian was soon a keen member of the school rugby team.
He left school with his parents' agreement and started work with Harlands in Alloa where he received a sound introduction to the finer points of working with machinery and design tools. He enjoyed a month’s break at the Moray Sea School, before returning to the grind of repairing and installing pumping engines all over the UK.
At Doaks Ballroom he met the young Christian Richardson, who would become his soul-mate, but then his call-up papers arrived. He joined the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers for his national service.
At the end of his service, he joined Grangemouth Rugby Club and a life-long attachment started. The presence of the nearby petrochemical works ensured a steady supply of experienced Welsh, English and Irish players and they blended well with local boys from Grangemouth High School.
Rugby was to feature prominently throughout Mr Ormiston's life - even on his wedding day in 1959 when a guard of honour was provided by various players whose game that afternoon had been called off.
Mr Ormiston’s ability in his favourite sport saw him become a popular player and captain of Grangemouth, earning selection for the Edinburgh District team on several occasions. He introduced many young players to the art of the side-step, kicking with the “other” foot - and his trademark “dummy”. He was a natural coach and his easy-going manner and patience were key attributes. Nobody had a bad word to say about him and he seemed to know everyone at every club Grangemouth played.
His latter working career took him to various places, mainly with Fluor, and again rugby featured strongly. Chester, Canvey Island, Market Rasen, Sellafield, Antwerp and Haarlem were among the places he worked - and inevitably he ended up at the local rugby club as a coach.
Back in Grangemouth, he was a popular choice as coach, president and honorary life member. He was the most dedicated of members, and carried out every conceivable role at Glensburgh. If ever a man deserved some national recognition for his services to rugby it was Ian Ormiston.
Away from rugby, he was a talented woodworker, producing bowls, dishes and ornaments of professional quality and his photography was further proof that he was a man of talent. He acted as an unofficial archivist for the Grangemouth Rugby Club and saved many documents from being lost. He could write well and it is a great regret that he was never able to complete an extended history of the club. His earlier pamphlet was an accurate, humorous and lively account of the early years.
He is survived by his sister Grace, his wife Christian, his children Elaine, Diane and Graham and his grandchildren Kerry, Cara and Sam.
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