Norman Davidson
Born: January 28, 1931;
Died: September 1, 2024
Norman Davidson, who has died aged 93, was one of Scotland’s oldest surviving internationalists, a wonderfully talented sportsman capped at both rugby and cricket who also enjoyed a fulfilling career as an eminent doctor.
Although he died near Auckland in New Zealand where he and his family emigrated in 1961, his sporting roots were nourished in his native Hawick, a place for which he maintained deep lifelong affection and gratitude and later flourished at Edinburgh University where he studied medicine.
While all his caps were won representing the university, he returned to Hawick during student holidays to play for the Greens and local cricket club, Hawick and Wilton.
Usually a stand-off, he was noted for “startling acceleration”, good hands and ability to kick with either foot, while on the cricket square he was an accomplished high order batsman whose fielding was once described as truly brilliant. Considered competitive but gracious, he always played in the right spirit.
He won five caps at cricket in 1951 and seven at rugby between 1952 and ’54, captaining Scotland against France in his last international aged 22. Norman also played rugby for the South of Scotland and Edinburgh/Glasgow against the touring Springboks and All Blacks, as well as representing the Barbarians, Edinburgh District, Royal Navy, United Services and Hampshire, captaining the latter two teams.
Ireland was a happy international venue for him. There he scored his only international try after combatting impaired vision due to a migraine while at cricket his resounding 6 in the last over of the match was a Roy of the Rovers moment, clinching victory against Ireland.
James Norman Grieve Davidson was the first baby born in Hawick’s Haig Maternity Home, his middle names those of a home’s benefactor. Always known as Norman, he was the elder child of Archibald and Jean and brother of Carol. Archie was a sales representative in the local textile industry and Jean a housewife and noted soprano soloist.
He was brought up in Wilton district and attended Hawick High School at both primary and secondary level where he did well academically and at sport, one of two pupils selected for the school’s 1st XI aged 13, the other the future international rugby referee Eric Grierson.
After school he began playing for junior side Hawick Harlequins before debuting for the Greens. At the same time he pursued his religious interests supporting and speaking at church activities through which he met Rev Selby Wright, who was to have a formative effect on him.
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After meeting him following his preaching in Hawick, Norman, who was about to study medicine at Edinburgh, was offered accommodation in the Canongate Kirk Manse, Selby Wright’s parish. There he resided for five years coming under the inspiring influence of the future Chaplain to the Queen and Moderator of the General Assembly whose preaching he much admired. It also led to becoming a club leader in the Canongate Boys’ Club linked to the Kirk where Norman taught Bible class and participated in club camps.
At university he soon made his sporting mark, earning his first international cap at cricket aged 20 against Warwickshire in 1951 and his last against the touring South Africans. In rugby he debuted against France aged 20 and played against all the home nations till his last cap in 1954; he was unfortunate not to win more. In seven–a-sides with Hawick he won Borders’ tournaments at Melrose, Hawick, Jedforest and Selkirk in 1953, Jedforest in ’54, Selkirk in ’55 and with Edinburgh District, the inaugural 1954 Inter District Championship.
When a house officer at Edinburgh’s Royal Infirmary, he met Margaret Hogarth from Galashiels, a student radiographer. The couple married in 1956 going on to enjoy 68 years of happy marriage during which they had Grant and Ann. National service in the Royal Navy beckoned, Norman being assigned as Surgeon Lt. to HMS Victory in Portsmouth after a spell at naval PT school. He then decided to sign up for a short-term service commission as medical officer joining H.M.S. Burghead Bay, part of the South Atlantic Squadron. Initially he was able to continue high level rugby representing the Navy four times in the Inter Services Twickenham tournament as well as United Services and Hampshire.
Some cricket was also played particularly in South Africa where Burghead was based for a period during a year at sea involving trips to the Cape Verde Islands and Brazil. Once his commission terminated, Norman and Margaret decided to move to New Zealand in 1961, a step taken for various reasons including better promotion prospects and an innate attraction to the country which had been recommended by friends.
He began medical duties at Whangarei Hospital to the north of Auckland soon becoming the physician, continuing till retirement in 1993. Although duties were demanding entailing extra time commitments, he enjoyed working with a harmonious staff, the tone set by his empathetic and encouraging approach. In recognition of his contribution Norman was awarded the Queen’s Service Medal.
He helped build his family’s house including an outside swimming pool, enjoyed golf and carpentry, and participated in ballroom dancing competitions with Margaret, an accomplished dancer. Unfailingly modest and the finest of men, he is survived by his wife, children and grandchildren Anita, Michael, Matthew and Lauren.
JACK DAVIDSON
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