Two Stewartry RFC volunteers have been recognised for their service to the club.
John Low and Clare Dooley were among the winners at Scottish Rugby’s Community Recognition Awards for Glasgow South on
Friday night.
John – known as Ludo – has been dedicated to the club for 40 years and received the Adam Gray Memorial Award.
He was a fitting recipient as Adam played for the Blacks for 10 years and served as head coach for 13, winning promotion three times.
He then took on roles with Scotland Rugby before his death in 2020 at the age of 60.
John has volunteered in just about every role possible at Stewartry – including cleaning and maintenance, serving on the committee and providing reports to the News.
After winning the award, he was given the honour of delivering the match ball for Glasgow Warriors’ win over Zebre at Scotstoun on Friday night.
Stewartry RFC secretary Iain McDonald said: “Whilst it could have been easy for John to have drifted away from active participation when his playing days ended, he instead simply doubled the effort he put into our wee club.
“John is just the perfect gentleman and central to every aspect of our club. In my time at the club, I have known him as a listener, arbitrator but also as a dear friend.
“The respect our club and other clubs show towards John reflects the respect he has always shown to us.
“Adam Gray and John had huge respect for each other. Adam found John’s dedication, enthusiasm for rugby and Stewartry over very many years utterly exemplary, as do I and the many members of our club.
“I think Adam would be delighted to see John take home this award.”
Clare, who plays for Stewartry Sirens, received the volunteer of the season in school rugby award.
Clare is a teacher at Springholm Primary and when coronavirus restrictions hit indoor PE classes, she introduced rugby at the school and partner schools.
She created a rugby programme to deliver to her pupils which included ball familiarisation drills and game-based practices which led the pupils on to playing touch rugby games.
Other award winners included Annan RFC, which was named community club of the season, Wigtownshire RFC’s Allan McMaster, who won volunteer of the season in adult rugby.
