Yet again, the record attendance at a GROGS lunch was broken when 122 descended on Braidholm to enjoy the Xmas Lunch and have the chance to hear current Glasgow Warriors coach, Gregor Townsend, talk on the subject he knows so much about. Sadly, GROGS’ Chairman, Roy Dingwall, wasn’t yet fit enough to chair the meeting and it took 2 other stalwarts, Gordon Wilson and Johnston Sime, to replace him. Gordon hailed Roy’s return to the company of the GROGS, a sentiment loudly appreciated by all. It was good to have him with us again. The double act of Wilson and Sime royally entertained the company, competing with each other with jokes and stories. Bill Gardner also entertained, leading the ever popular Christmas Singalong on his keyboard. However, the main attraction was Gregor Townsend, the popular Scottish Internationalist, British and Irish Lion and current Head Coach of the successful Glasgow Warriors. Gregor regaled the gathered rugby devotees with tales of his playing experiences with a number of clubs in 5 separate countries as well as his international career and, especially, his never to be forgotten experiences against the All Blacks (Haka and all) and 1997 tour of South Africa, when the Lions won the series. Reciting a litany of names from the list of Rugby Glitterati, (too many to record here) Gregor both entertained and educated the rapt and appreciative audience. Although with little coaching experience before hitting the “big time”, he described how he had combined what he had learned as a player under some legendary coaches during his long and distinguished career and as a fledgling coach with Scotland, all of which helped to bring him to this stage of his coaching career. After answering some questions from the floor and armed with a bottle of the highly coveted GROGS whisky and an equally coveted GROGS tie, Gregor wisely took his leave before the Singalong started.