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Team Coach
Bob Aitken
sadly withdrawn through illness.
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A few words from Allan Mabon
It is with extreme regret that I have to announce the enforced withdrawal from the tour of Bob Aitken. Bob visited hospital (in his shorts) on Monday 21 June for a routine check-up and was kept in, initially pending the results of tests. When these became available a few days later, the medics decided that triple by-pass surgery was required and this is to be carried out on Monday 4 July. Bob being a non-smoker, the prognosis is good but there is nevertheless a three-month convalescence period following the operation and he has consequently written off the remainder of the 2005 shooting season. He still hopes, however, to be fully recovered by March 2006 at which time he is scheduled to be Chairman of the Fullbore Jury for the Commonwealth Games to be held at Bendigo in Victoria, Australia.
That Bob has been kept in hospital prior to surgery is a shrewd move on the part of his doctors. Had he been allowed to go home during that period, he would have had to be tied down like Gulliver in Lilliput and watched round the clock in order to prevent him from turning up at our Scottish Open Championship Meeting held at Barry Buddon over the weekend of 25 – 27 June.
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As present Chairman of the Scottish Rifle Association, he plays a large part in the organisation of that event, liaising with the military authorities on range booking, with the local district council on the civic reception which they accord us each year in Forfar, with the jewellers on the production of medals and badges . . . the list of things that Bob takes responsibility for is endless and only those of us who work closely with him are fully aware of the colossal amount of time and energy that he devotes to trying to ensure shooting for other people. Given that he is also chief raffle ticket salesman, charmingly strong-arming the unsuspecting into contributing to SRA Overseas Team Funds, it is entirely likely therefore that the resultant shortfall in revenue this year will delay the next Scottish Team touring enterprise by a considerable margin of time!
For me personally, Bob’s absence from this tour will make it rather an odd occasion as, over the years, whether with GB or Scotland, Bob has been on every tour with which I have been involved. All of us will miss his positive input to both the shooting and social aspects of the tour and therefore wish him a speedy and complete recovery.
Allan Mabon
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Highs of Bob's Shooting Career: First cap 1974; winning on first tour 1976; GB Cap 1980; Scottish CG Team Manager 1994, when the Scots won a record number of CG medals; Captain of GB team to NZ in 2003 and winning the veterans Gold Medal and four other trophies by surprise; winning the Gold medal for the over 65's in the 2004 ages match at Bisley in 2004;winning a long range gold medal and returned servicemans prize in Tasmania 2005.
Lows: Quote: 'I don't do lows - I am an eternal optimist' |
Spot Bob !!! In the bushes?
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