Watty Yellowlees's 90th birthday

Watty Yellowlees (31-36) celebrated his 90 th birthday with a lunch party at Merchiston on Saturday 28 th April, attended by many close friends and relatives. Watty was School Captain between 1935-36, Rugby Captain in both the 1934-35 and 1935-36 seasons, and is now the oldest Merchistonian Rugby Captain living.

Andrew Hunter, Headmaster, current Captain of School, Archie Millar and current Captain of Rugby presented Watty with gifts and wished him many happy returns. Watty’s nephew, David Yellowlees (61-67) was among the speakers at the lunch, delivering the following (slightly edited) address:

“I think it’s brilliant that Watty chose Merchie for this celebration, a staggering 71 years after he left here, following a most distinguished school career. I’ve been doing a little research amongst the dusty shelves of The Merchistonian Magazines of the 1930’s, and inevitably my eye was drawn to the rugby reports of the time - how things have changed in three generations – the average weight of the 1936 XV was only 11 stone 4 lbs – I should think the C1’s would get close to that today. Most of the matches were low-scoring affairs, and the very successful 1935-36 side scored only 59 points in seven school games, conceding 14 points in the process.

Watty was a terrific scrum-half, who played three seasons for the 1 st SV and was captain for the last two. The 1935-36 season, Watty’s last, was the first unbeaten one since 1919-20.

The pen portrait of Watty at the end of his last season reads as follows:

“A splendid captain. His keenness and quiet determination on and off the field were invaluable to the side. Has got through enough defence for two ordinary scrum-halves, and with a little more speed, he should make a dangerous attacking player….Must learn not to waste energy by plunging into the opposing forwards!”

Though Watty and his wee brother, Dave, never played rugby together for Merchiston, they did play together for the 1 st XI, and I would like to read one short extract from Bill Stone’s match report of the 2-day game against Loreto in June 1936:

“Saturday ought to be known for future generations as the Yellowlees’ Day. At practically every moment of the day one or other was in the picture, and in the end what looked like an ominous beginning was turned into a very fine win.” Over the innings, Watty scored 114 runs and took 6 wickets, while young Dave managed 70 runs and 5 wickets.

Watty was also a fine middle-distance athlete who managed to run the half-mile in 2mins.8secs. He was pipe-major in the band, and Captain of School as well.

Apart from the sports already covered, Watty has been a sailor, fisherman, golfer and skier….a soldier, doctor, dietician, author, potter and painter …a gallery owner, gardener and organic pioneer, a recycler of waste – both garden and human….a doughty campaigner, fighting for organics and a healthy diet, and against the compulsory fluoridation of water supplies…..a piper, dancer and even a Prancer….and he’s always been a bit of a sugarbabe….I’m sorry, that should be sugarphobe!!

Watty hasn’t just dabbled in all these jobs and activities, he’s been very good at all of them, and a real star at many, with the minimum of fuss and bother, while being the nicest bloke you could very hope to meet!

..We salute you on a terrific innings…In the 1936 Loretto match I mentioned earlier you were out for 96, just short of your century….We all hope you go on to make your 100 this time – no-one could deserve it more!