113 enthusiastic GROGs ignored the driving wind and rain to come to Braidholm to hear Alastair Kellock and they weren’t disappointed. The former Scotland rugby captain, and current Glasgow Warriors captain, was in great form and delivered a humourous, thought provoking, informative and, above all, honest talk to the delighted gathering. Sensing the audience’s anticipation, Chairman Gordon Wilson was brief in his introduction of the towering lock forward, leaving it to “Big Al” to talk about his rugby career from his early club days at Allan Glen’s and Stirling County before moving, at the ‘intimidating’ Jim Telfer’s behest, to Edinburgh Rugby and then as Glasgow Warriors captain in 2006. He also captained Scotland, gaining more than 50 caps, and capped it all (if readers will excuse the pun) by leading the Barbarians against Australia in 2014. All of this was described with equal measures of aplomb and humility, especially when describing the highs and lows of being a captain and his famous “open and frank conversation” with Sean Lineen after a Warriors v Dragons game. Alastair was fulsome in his praise of players who had influenced him, like Scott Murray and Todd Blackadder, and couldn’t speak highly enough of other influences, like the Warriors off the field team. He extolled the benefits of what he sees as the 3 essentials for successful team rugby - a family spirit; an awareness of the history and the ethos of the club and the sense of security that being a member of the team gives. Every player, at all levels, he said, has only inherited the jersey from his predecessor and is preserving it for his successor. A big man in every way, Alastair Kellock has been an excellent ambassador for Scottish rugby throughout his career. As his playing days near an end, he showed that he is clearly going to continue in that mode in a non-playing role. We are very fortunate to have him. He answered a number of intelligent questions (and one not so intelligent) before being invited to join that select band of proud owners of a bottle of GROGs whisky and a free GROGs tie!