(Photo: Robert M Tollervey on the right, with the ball, and good friend John M Ross on the left – middle is JD Johnstone)
We were deeply saddened to hear that former Heriot’s Rugby Club Captain and President Robert M ‘Bob’ Tollervey passed away last week, aged 91 years. Bob was Club Captain in 1956-1957 and was part of the Heriot’s teams to win the Hawick, Jed and Melrose 7s tournaments in the 1950s and 60s.
Bob played for Edinburgh Rugby several times and was also part of a combined Edinburgh / Glasgow team who played against France and the Springboks.
Bob got to be known as the “eternal reserve” for Scotland as he sat on the bench, on what was then a record number of times for Scotland, including touring to South Africa in 1962, without getting a cap.
After finishing playing rugby Bob became President of Heriot’s Rugby Club in 1982 before being succeeded in 1984 by his very good friend John Ross. Bob was a regular at Goldenacre and many remember him, John Ross and, other great friend, Doc Milne as regular features “propping up the bar” on a match day.
As well as rugby Bob played golf (was a member at Duddingston) and had a keen interest in sailing and sub-aqua, and was in fact still scuba diving into his 80s.
His wife Ella sadly died several years ago but our thoughts are with his three sons, David, Neil and Alan and their families.
Funeral will be held at Seafield Crematorium on Tuesday 1st December at 2pm.