There is a happy GROGS tradition of fun filled Christmas Lunches and Chairman, Hugh Dan MacLennan, and guest speaker, Andy Nicol, made sure that 2023 was no exception. There was a fantastic attendance of 139 enthusiastic GROGs. There would have been a new record if sickness and Cal-Mac had not intervened! Under Hugh Dan’s skilful chairmanship the proceedings got off to a rollicking start and remained in that vein all afternoon. The GROGs and guests present enjoyed the traditional community Sing-a-Long-a-Grogs musical interlude, the “Best Christmas Sweater” competition and some general hilarity before settling down to fine Loks Christmas fare. After lunch there was more of the same including the “Best Christmas Hat” competition with some outrageous entries. Then it was time to sit back and be royally entertained by former Scotland captain, British and Ireland Lion and current TV pundit, Andy Nicol who had been the first ever guest speaker at GROGS, in April 2002. He retired from rugby one year after that, imagining that he couldn’t achieve anything better. Well he could, and did …. at the GROGS Christmas Lunch on 13 December 2023!
After the earlier build up, Andy endeared himself by describing the lunch as the most bizarre he’d ever been to. He thought he’d been misdirected and was at a Lunch for the Living Dead! No offence was intended and none was taken. In fact, given their average age many GROGs took being bizarre as a compliment. Promising to reminisce and speaking, apparently without notes, Andy went on to give a tour de force to a rapt audience. He spoke about rugby of the bygone days, his introduction to the sport in Dundee at the age of 6, the rules and standards he was imbued with then which are still with him (they were more values than rules, he said) and fascinating descriptions of some highs and lows of his career. Andy always enjoyed his rugby, particularly at Bath where he was in the company of stellar players and where he “won stuff”. He had some polar opposite experiences, playing in front of a crowd of 800 one week and 62,000 the next week. Now, that’s bizarre! We heard about his club career, his international career and, with refreshing honesty, his (very) brief Lions career. His first rugby heroes were his brother and his grandfather who was capped for Scotland but, when asked who was the best player he’d ever played with/against the surprise answer was - Jeremy Guscott. This report cannot do justice to Andy Nicol’s contribution to a great event. It was terrific! He went away with our heartfelt thanks, a bottle of Special GROGS whisky and a promise not to bother him again for at least another 21 years.
After the earlier build up, Andy endeared himself by describing the lunch as the most bizarre he’d ever been to. He thought he’d been misdirected and was at a Lunch for the Living Dead! No offence was intended and none was taken. In fact, given their average age many GROGs took being bizarre as a compliment. Promising to reminisce and speaking, apparently without notes, Andy went on to give a tour de force to a rapt audience. He spoke about rugby of the bygone days, his introduction to the sport in Dundee at the age of 6, the rules and standards he was imbued with then which are still with him (they were more values than rules, he said) and fascinating descriptions of some highs and lows of his career. Andy always enjoyed his rugby, particularly at Bath where he was in the company of stellar players and where he “won stuff”. He had some polar opposite experiences, playing in front of a crowd of 800 one week and 62,000 the next week. Now, that’s bizarre! We heard about his club career, his international career and, with refreshing honesty, his (very) brief Lions career. His first rugby heroes were his brother and his grandfather who was capped for Scotland but, when asked who was the best player he’d ever played with/against the surprise answer was - Jeremy Guscott. This report cannot do justice to Andy Nicol’s contribution to a great event. It was terrific! He went away with our heartfelt thanks, a bottle of Special GROGS whisky and a promise not to bother him again for at least another 21 years.