Nov
04
Craig Dawson
It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Boroughmuir life-long member Craig Dawson.
Craig was diagnosed with a Brain Tumour in the spring of 2019 and he passed away on Wednesday morning, 28th October 2020 at the Marie Curie Hospice in Fairmilehead. Craig was 63.
Craig, joined Boroughmuir Rugby club straight from school in 1975.
There may have been others more talented to wear the famous blue and green, but Craig’s longevity meant he played longer than all, chalking up an unbelievable 45 consecutive seasons.
During the early days (first 20 years), Craig had the knack of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, invariably getting his head in the way when a team mate was punching an opponent. However, like a good whisky, Craig’s rugby seemed to improve with the years and he definitely played some of his best rugby in his later playing career.
His long player career helped support the lower team’s need for front row, ensuring that Boroughmuir were always able to field a team and that 29 other players got a game of rugby. A recent example was committee man Craig putting his boots on to make up the 7 we needed to ensure Boroughmuir didn’t take the field short. Craig was a Boroughmuir man through and through.
Craig was also one of the founder members of the Boroughmuir Reprobates (along with Richard Elliott, Colin Gordon and Gordon Laidlaw), creating a social rugby side that still plays to this day.
Like all good Boroughmuir men, his own family grew up in and around the club. Katie and Emma, as ankle biters, would be along with Craig and Adele every Saturday. His brother Nick and brother in law Stewart Mackay both played for Boroughmuir.
After Craig’s long playing career, he continued to volunteer at the club he loved. He was committee/bag man for lower XVs, he took on the chair of the 100 club, he updated our social media facebook pages and until recently, he had taken over from Alan Mackay as our First team stadium announcer. Craig won club person of the year in 2018.
Craig was Boroughmuir’s resident DJ for many, many years. Despite not having the most up-to-date of record collections and a having a glaring weakspot for unusual novelty records, he regularly wowed his audience with great disco events, the highlight of which was undoubtably the Christmas Eve fancy dress where the tickets would sell out months before the event. You wouldn’t want to be anywhere else at Christmas and Craig always made the evening go with a real swing.
Craig was also a DJ at the Napier University student union and in
April 1976 they booked an up and coming Australian band called AC/DC for a small pittance of a fee to play their first ever Scottish Gig. Gordon Laidlaw remembers it well, 50p a ticket and 30p a pint of cider – happy days. Craig’s co-dj was a guy called Drew Young, cousin of the band. What a coup for Craig.
Craig liked his beer, was partial to a whisky and rather poor at timekeeping. If you were meeting up at the Golf at 8pm after the game, you would tell Craig to meet at 7pm. Even then if you were lucky Craig would wander in the back of 8, absolutely oblivious to what time of day it was
C
raig loved his tours and trips with the TNBC boys, whether that be on a Lions tour to NZ or closer to home on sailing trips to Portavadie or a long lunch at Alloa. Craig’s most recent trip was in August and the mystery tour to Kinross and Loch Leven Brewery, where we all spent a fabulous afternoon complete with gilet’s, loud shirts and wide brimmed hats. Craig wore his dress code with pride and with much aplomb.
Craig was one of life's true gentlemen who always met you with a smile and warm welcome. He was well loved by all. There has been a fantastic response and some lovely tributes on Facebook from as far and wide as Australia and New Zealand to local clubs like the Lismore Lepers, BATS rugby and Edinburgh Rugby Refs.
Our love and thoughts go out to his wife Adele, their children, Katie and Emma, and to their extended family. We will all miss him.
Craig’s funeral is on Wednesday 11th November at 3pm at Mortonhall Crematorium. It is a private family ceremony, and as everyone will appreciate, very restricted due to Covid. However the funeral cortège will leave from Boroughmuir rugby club at approx 2.30 so that those that wish can pay their respects. Adele and family plan to hold a celebration of Craig’s life at a later date.
