Bill McLaren facts for kids

William 'Bill' McLaren (born October 16, 1923 – died January 19, 2010) was a famous Scottish rugby union commentator, teacher, and journalist. He was often called 'the voice of rugby' because of his amazing commentary. Bill was loved by many for his passion and unique way with words. He stopped commentating in 2002.

Early Life and Rugby Dreams

Bill McLaren was born in Hawick, Scotland, in 1923. His father was a knitwear salesman. From a young age, Bill loved rugby. He grew up hearing stories about famous Scottish players.

He once said, "I was brought up on stories of the great Scottish players... I used to go with my father to see matches... so I had an all-consuming desire to wear the green jersey of Hawick."

As a teenager, Bill became a good rugby player himself. He played as a flank forward for his local team, Hawick RFC.

War Service and Illness

During the Second World War, Bill served in the Royal Artillery in Italy. He was a forward spotter, helping to direct artillery fire.

After the war, he almost played for the Scottish national team in 1947. However, he became very ill with tuberculosis. This serious illness stopped him from playing rugby. He spent 19 months in a hospital, where he was given a new medicine that saved his life. While recovering, he started his broadcasting career by commentating on table tennis games for the hospital radio.

A Career in Sports

Bill McLaren studied Physical Education in Aberdeen. He then became a PE teacher in schools across Scotland until 1987. He even coached several young players from Hawick who later played for Scotland. These included Jim Renwick, Colin Deans, and Tony Stanger.

From Reporter to Commentator

Bill's journalism career began at a local newspaper, the Hawick Express. In 1953, he started working for BBC Radio. His first national commentary was a rugby match between Scotland and Wales. Six years later, he moved to television commentary.

Bill was one of many famous commentators who started on radio and then moved to TV. Other well-known names included Murray Walker (motor racing) and Peter O'Sullevan (horse racing).

Awards and Recognition

Bill McLaren received many honors for his work. In November 2001, he became the first person who wasn't an international player to join the International Rugby Hall of Fame. He was also awarded an MBE in 1992, an OBE in 1995, and a CBE in 2003. Many fans even campaigned for him to receive a knighthood.

He also lent his voice to video games like Jonah Lomu Rugby and EA Rugby 2001.

During his very last commentary, a match between Wales and Scotland in 2002, the crowd sang "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow" to him. One Welsh fan held a sign saying, "Bill McLaren is Welsh," showing how much he was loved by everyone.

After retiring, Bill wrote a book called Rugby's Great Heroes and Entertainers in 2003. In his later years, Bill faced health challenges that affected his memory.

Bill's Family

Bill McLaren was married to Bette. They had two daughters: Linda and Janie. Linda married Alan Lawson, a former scrum-half for Scotland rugby. Janie married horse racing commentator Derek Thompson.

Bill had five grandchildren. Two of them followed in his rugby footsteps: Rory Lawson played scrum-half for Scotland and Gloucester, and Jim Thompson played for the Scotland 7s team.

Remembering Bill McLaren

Bill McLaren passed away on January 19, 2010, at the age of 86 in his hometown of Hawick. His funeral was held on January 25. Hundreds of people lined the streets of Hawick to applaud his hearse as it passed.

On March 11, 2010, thousands of people gathered at Murrayfield Stadium for a special event to celebrate Bill's life. This was just before the annual Calcutta Cup rugby match.

In February 2013, a statue of Bill was unveiled in Wilton Park in Hawick. Later that year, a bust of him was placed in the main reception area of Murrayfield Stadium. Bill was also one of the first people to be inducted into the Scottish Rugby Hall of Fame in 2010. He was later inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame during the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

Bill McLaren Foundation

The Bill McLaren Foundation is a charity that helps develop and promote rugby and other sports. It was launched at Murrayfield Stadium on March 4, 2010.