Remembering Kenneth Scott – Past President 1998-99
Ken Scott passed away at home in Blairgowrie, on Thursday 2nd December 2021, with his wife of 48 years Elizabeth, beside him.
Ken was introduced to curling at the AGM of the Blairgowrie Club in 1975. Fortunately, tuition was being given in Perth by the renowned Chuck Hay, Bill Muirhead and Bill Reid so for their first club game Ken, and his wife Elizabeth, slid on to the ice with a firm grasp of what was expected.
Ken described himself as an “ordinary curler”, he revelled in the competitiveness and the social aspect of the sport, upholding the traditional values of Blairgowrie was also important. He was a most enthusiastic curler playing indoors and outdoors whenever possible.
Promoting curling became almost as important to Ken as participation and in 1981 he became an Instructor, teaching beginners at the Perth and Atholl Ice Rinks. Recognising his commitment to Curling, Blairgowrie chose him as Club President in 1987. He was elected to RCCC Council in 1991 as Area Representative, being re-elected in 1995 and he served on, virtually all, RCCC committees. In 1994, Ken was responsible for the RCCC’s Five Year Plan for the “Whole Game of Curling”. The main thrust being that there would be, throughout Scotland, a spread of qualified instructors who would help remedy the decline of the number of participants in the game. The Plan also identified the need for proper training and qualification of umpires. He supported this by completing the Level 1 and Level 2 Umpire Courses and was called upon to use this training at a number of competitions.
Ken helped to interest sportscotland, formerly the Scottish Sports Council, in curling. Working with this body and the coaching and development officers, Ken helped set up the Junior Development programme. He was also involved with raising the profile of coaches and instructors in Scotland aiming to promote a more professional organisation by the introduction of a nationally recognised qualification.
In January 1998, Ken was privileged to Captain the Scots’ Tour to Switzerland. Not having been a member of a Championship rink was one of Ken’s curling regrets but this was far outweighed by his belief that, for him, there was no higher honour than being President of the Royal Caledonian Curling Club.
The funeral will be private at Ken’s request.
