Funeral Details Update – Ian Harris Wright “Albie” 28 February 1956 – 05 May 2020

I will miss Albie .
He was a big part of my rugby life at Goldenacre during the great rugby years late 80s 90s.
I toured with him to Boston , Canada and Bermuda highlights of my rugby career.
A great Herioter, Nail and tourist.
RIP

Simmy

Albie was captain of the school 1st XV in the 1973/74 season. In his end of season report in The Herioter in July 1974, Stuart Barnes said “Ian may be relatively small in body, but he is extremely big in heart, and his drive, courage and ‘never say die’ attitude were always evident on the field”. A fair summary of how Albie played his rugby and lived his life. As you say, a Heriot Rugby legend. RIP Albie and my condolences to Val and the family.
Gordon

Ian and I were very good friends at Heriots and lived nearby to each other. He in Viewforth, and me in Fountainbridge. We travelled different paths after school. We bumped into each other occasionally over the years. I had not seen him for a few years. I wish I had. His passing is really very, very sad. However, it did bring back very happy memories of a boy and man with a lust for life. I thought back to where the nickname “Albie” came from. I think Gordon, Ian’s older brother, had the middle name Albert. He was the original “Albie”. Then Ian became Wee Albie, then just Albie. Whenever I think of Ian, I smile. He made his mark during his life and brought fun. My thoughts are with Val and the family.

I’ve just heard this sad news via Robert More’s Cricket Club letter. It’s a bit of a shock, since Albie and I entered the gates of Heriots at the same time back in September 1961 and wended our way through the next 13 years together, both in Castle House. The photo above is an instant reminder of how he always seemed. He was our year’s star all-round sportsman and ultimately captain of rugby. I think he was a bit disappointed not also to be captain of cricket but he never let it show in his commitment to the team that I was lucky enough to skipper, and the advice he gave me as vice-captain. The story about the passage of his nickname from elder brother Gordon is true, although there was a time when Albie was known as Harris to distinguish him from his brother in a properly principled way. Gordon never lost his Albie, at least for the Heriots FP Second XI which he captained and where he kept wicket. The resemblance of the brothers to each other was amazing from Prep B onwards, where Gordon used to have to come to hand over his wee brother’s school fees at the beginning of each term, causing hubbub each time. Possibly the finest moment Ian and I had together was on a glorious summer’s afternoon at the end of our Sixth Year, when we took on Pete Hewitt and Dave Meekison at doubles on the tennis courts then marked out on the School front lawns. Although Pete and Dave were the School’s doubles team, we very part-time tennis players beat them in a fiercely contested match (can’t remember whether it stretched to more than one set); a great memory with which to leave School! I saw Ian only rarely after that, and I didn’t know that he had been ill; but I can believe he fought it to the end with humour and courage. I’m very sorry I didn’t get to pay my respects in person before his passing.