Bothwell and Uddingston Rotary Club past president Bob McClure dies aged 74

Mar 4 2010 by Alastair McNeill, Hamilton Advertiser

ROBERT McClure, a part president and founder member of Bothwell and Uddingston Rotary Club died on February 22, aged 74. He was a stalwart member of the club, and here pal Alastair Gilmour - also past president of the club - gives an appreciation of Bob’s life...

Robert died peacefully at Monklands Hospital, Airdrie, on February 22, 2010, leaving his loving wife Irene of 48 years and two sons Stewart and Robin.

Robert and Irene met as teenagers in their home town of Saltcoats, Ayrshire. He did national service in the RAF before starting a career in banking. Robert started off in London and eventually became manager of the Clydesdale Bank in Bothwell where he was very well liked by staff and customers alike.

I first met Robert in 1975 when the Hamilton Rotary Club decided it was possible to form a new Bothwell and Uddingston Rotary Club.

The founder members of the new club met at the Silvertrees Hotel. At the meeting I noted Robert had a quiet personality, but as he listened to the discussion he always came up with very pertinent questions and got the answer he wanted.

My wife Eileen and I have had so many happy times with Robert and Irene at home and at dinner dances.

Robert was always telling ‘one-line’ jokes just like the comedian Chic Murray. Some were sick and daft, but always funny.

Robert was a member of Uddingston Old Parish Church. He became an elder in the early 1970s and, like his Rotary involvement, enthusiastically helped the community in a quiet, efficient and caring manner.

The Rotary Club of Bothwell and Uddingston was formed in 1975 and chartered in early 1976 and is still very active in the community.

He became the fourth club president in 1979 and took the club into a new phase. We all learned how Rotary was acting worldwide – and in particular how the money being raised was used to help eradicate polio in the third world.

I was his vice-president at the time and I got to know Robert very well.

He was very enthusiastic about Rotary and was on the district committee. He became district 1230 governor which involved working with Rotary clubs from Stranraer to Campbeltown.

This responsible position meant that he had to attend meetings with the ‘high heidyins’ in the States.

In 1986 he held a conference in Aviemore attended by over 1000 Rotary delegates from across the world. It was one of the largest conferences ever held in Scotland.

In the 1990s Robert began to suffer from various health problems which were never explained. However, a specialist finally diagnosed MS. Typically, Robert and Irene kept supporting one another and of course their two boys.

Robert was awarded the highest Rotary award – the Paul Harris Award – which is given to a Rotarian for an outstanding contribution to the good of humanity both at home and abroad.

For all the years my wife and I have been close friends with Robert and Irene the most important people in their lives were their two boys.

Grandchildren were equally important and Robin and wife Kay’s children Blair and Catriona were his pride and joy.

Robert and Irene have had great support and friendship from family and their many friends. We are all so proud to have been a close friend to them.Bob was a real gentleman and a giant of a man.

ROBERT McCLURE: past president of Bothwell and Uddingston Rotary Club who died aged 74.