We learned tonight of the passing on Sunday last of yet another stalwart of the highland games circuit, Stewart Forsyth, erstwhile Track/Athletics Convener at the Strathallan Meeting, former and long-serving member of the General Council of the RSHGA and, until the end of last season, a much respected and ever-present timekeeper at Highland Games across the country.
He and the late Chairman at Bridge of Allan, Jimmy Gauld, were instrumental in bringing that meeting into the SGA (as it then was) as we entered the 21st century and both of them seemed to spend all spare time (and sometimes more than that) out at the Games park, cutting the grass, painting equipment and generally getting everything just right. The track was measured and marked like no other Games park in Scotland. It was what he did. If you could not reach him at home, you just went to the park and you knew that he would be there!!
He was a member of Stirling Rowing Club in his earlier years and worked until retirement at the University of Stirling. He took a keen interest in the Incorporated Trades of the Royal Burgh of Stirling, taking on a major role in one of the Crafts and was very much a Stirling man at heart. His car’s unique registration number summed it all up very succinctly.
Sadly, Stewart lost his devoted wife, Mary, some years ago and he endured declining health in recent years with a fortitude which was an example to many, if not most, of us. He had an impish grin and a razor sharp wit which was used often to devastating effect. Many of us have witnessed that.
Funeral arrangements will be made know when they are made known to us. The attached image shows him refuelling between races at a recent Markinch meeting, but it had to be M & S food. That was Stewart.