The eldest son of boxing legend Ken Buchanan has told of his heartbreak after missing his father’s burial.
Buchanan, considered Scotland’s greatest-ever fighter, died, aged 77, at a nursing home in Edinburgh on April 1.
Son Raymond was with the family at a public memorial service last Tuesday, which saw hundreds pay tribute at St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh.
But, in a cruel snub, he was not invited to the private family burial two days later. Raymond said: “I’ll never get over not being there to say a final farewell to my dad.
“When my granddad Tommy, my dad’s dad, was buried, I had a cord to help lower him into the ground. I expected to do the same for my dad, who was also my hero.”
Raymond claims his younger brother Mark failed to tell him about the burial.
He said: “I can’t believe my wee brother buried my dad without me.
“I’ve always tried to keep a relationship going with Mark and even told him I loved him a few days earlier at our dad’s funeral.
“But I have to accept he doesn’t have any feelings for me and I’ll not be talking to him again.”
Last year, Raymond told the Record about learning that his sporting hero as a young boy, Ken Buchanan, was actually his dad.
Ken had dated Raymond’s mum Maria in the 60s but they split before he was born. Ken went on to marry second wife Carol and they had two children, Mark and Karen.
Since learning as a child that Ken was actually his dad, the pair developed a close bond. Raymond spoke to his dad just three days before his death and says they were as close as ever towards the end of Ken’s life.
He added: “He wasn’t himself, obviously but still knew who I was and I told him I loved him.
“The last thing he said to me was, ‘I love you, son.’
“I don’t have any regrets in that sense because my dad died knowing I loved him, and I know he loved me.
“I’m his eldest son and one of the things that children do for their parents is to see them out of this world.
“I’m devastated that I wasn’t allowed to do that.”
Raymond, 57, had joined Mark, other family and friends and hundreds of mourners – including ring legends Jim Watt and Barry McGuigan – at his dad’s memorial service.
He was also among a group of close family and friends who attended a wake at the Theatre Royal on Leith Street, across from the bronze statue of Buchanan that the former undisputed world lightweight champion unveiled himself last year.
The burial was to be a private affair, at a later date, at Piershill Cemetery, where Buchanan’s parents are also buried.
Last Friday morning, Raymond messaged Mark to ask for details of the burial.
Mark replied four hours later: “Yesterday, with a small private service.”
Stunned, Raymond then sent the message: “Why wasn’t I there?”
Mark replied: “It was kept secret as per dad’s wishes and you never asked for any details or anything about it so I thought you were happy with just coming on Tuesday.”
Raymond messaged: “You never sent me any details. I wouldn’t have missed my dad’s burial for
the world.”
Last night, Raymond told the Record: “There’s nothing that can ever make up for this.
“I feel as though I’ve always been trying to fit in. I was raised by my grandparents and felt, as a child, that I had to fight for my mum’s attention.
“When I learned who my dad was, that he was married and had children from the marriage, it was the same. I was on the outside looking in. I’ve never knowingly done anything to harm my brother.
“It was harder to meet up for a few years but I didn’t think we had ever fallen out.
“I hugged him outside the Theatre Royal after the service and told him that I loved him. I can’t understand why he’s repaid me like this.
“I can’t believe he thought last Tuesday’s service was enough for me. It’s a slap in the face to tell me that in his eyes I’m not really one of the family.
“I’m not saying I loved my dad more than Mark but no one could have loved him more than I did, and I didn’t deserve this.”
After absorbing the shock of learning he had missed the burial, Raymond spoke to some of those who had been there.
Only 12 people made up the official party but some members of the Ken Buchanan Foundation and the boxing legend’s best friend, Jimmy Pace, had found out about it in time to turn up.
Jimmy said: “We went to the cemetery at the appointed time but they kept us well back.
“They had two security guards and wouldn’t let us get near. We couldn’t even hear the words that were being said over him.
“Ken was my best mate and I loved him.
“I gave him a home for five years when times were hard and didn’t charge him a penny, and somehow I wasn’t invited to his burial.
“I was upset for myself but not as upset as I was for Raymond when I saw he wasn’t there.
“I knew right away he hadn’t been told and I couldn’t believe anyone would be so cruel because that laddie loved his dad. There is no way Ken would have wanted either of us not to be there.”
The burial service was organised by younger son Mark and Owen Smith, a friend who was coached by Buchanan when he was a promising young boxer and was registered as having power of attorney over his hero’s affairs.
Smith said: “I assisted Mark with the arrangements for the St Giles’ service but I was just an invited guest at the burial. I don’t know why Raymond wasn’t asked to attend.”
Mark Buchanan was also asked for comment.
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