Those GROGs attending the February Lunch 2017 will be delighted to tell anyone who might be interested that they were present on the day The Bear of Scottish rugby came to Braidholm. Iain Milne, the great Scottish International, British Lions warrior and 1984 Grand Slam winner did, indeed, come to Braidholm to address 103 GROGs who still see him as a hero from the “Golden Age” of rugby. A huddle (being the collective noun) of props gathered at the top table, in the shapes of Iain Milne, Chairman Alasdair Graham and Robert Dean, comfortably taking up the space usually reserved for 5! For the second month in a row, a former Scottish Internationalist and British Lion entertained GROGs with a delivery, full of good stories of the goings-on of some of the top rugby stars of yesteryear, linked with a clear knowledge of the sport, at all levels, and covering decades of playing and observation experience. Iain’s story ranged from his playing days at George Heriots school, Heriots FP, to his Scotland and British Lions career - a story laced with tales of high jinks both on and off the pitch. He clearly loved his rugby and he loved the fun with his teammates, fun that might have been put down as being boisterous in the 1980’s. There’s one ex mayor in a small town in New Zealand who probably still treasures a ripped blazer as a souvenir of a Lions visit! Iain’s nostalgia included a euphimistic account of a shared love of watching television with a Kiwi fan and the day he became semi professional by accepting a white pudding supper from an appreciative Jim Telfer. Iain has had his demons to fight over the years and the fight continues. Still heavily involved in rugby with Heriots, he works very hard to foster the old style club spirit there, efforts that are bearing fruit. Although not a great fan of the SRU’s apparent desire to control all levels of club rugby, he gave it a reasonable report as he did with Glasgow Warriors and Gregor Townsend, but was less praising of Edinburgh Rugby and former coach Alan Solomons. He ended by exhorting club representatives to speak out strongly for collective club rugby, answering questions openly and honestly and taking possession of a prized bottle of GROGS whisky with enthusiasm.