Sandy Bruce - an Appreciation

Sandy Bruce passed away at home on Saturday morning. No doubt, he was about to get ready for his normal Saturday ritual of finalising arrangements for Kelso's rugby match as he was a mainstay of the club, acting as fixture, match and referee's secretary as well as announcing at the games and counting the bar takings on a Monday.
It was no ordinary Saturday as Sandy was preparing to receive guests from France for the rugby international on Sunday as part of Kelso's Town Twinning, in which he played a keen and active part.
His involvement in the community was not confined to the rugby club as he was an active player and treasurer of Kelso Bowling Club as well as being involved with SportKelso and Roxburgh District Sports Council.
His interests were not just of a sporting nature, however, as he was a member of Kelso Players and had been involved with several of the Border towns' operatic societies over the years.
He was a keen singer and many of his friends' last social contact with Sandy was on his birthday on Burns' Night at the Kelso Burns' Supper where he led the company in a rousing version of "Scots Wha Hae".
Sandy was an Aberdonian, educated at Robert Gordon's College, and he came to the Borders around 40 years ago to teach mathematics at Kelso High School, moving on to Galashiels Academy and, finally, retiring from his post as Principal Teacher of Maths at Earlston High School in 2002.
After retiring, Sandy travelled widely, following the British Lions on several rugby tours as well as visiting several far-flung outposts of the world, visiting his middle daughter, Fiona, when she worked abroad.
He was a well-kent face around Kelso and beyond, primarily through his love of rugby.
Latterly, the schoolmaster in him allowed him to be persuaded to organise the Scottish Schools Under-15 Cup for the SRU. He had after all, complemented his maths teaching with looking after schoolboy rugby teams over the years.
Sandy has a major health scare in November, but seemed to be back to his normal self recently.
My last conversation with him last Friday, after we had sorted out the rugby world, concluded with Sandy saying he was off to the swimming pool, probably to do another 40 lengths.
Sandy will be sorely missed in Kelso by many, but mostly by his three daughters, Lesley, Fiona and Sarah, their husbands and his new grandchildren.

N.T.A.