GROGS gave a warm welcome to well known broadcaster Iain Anderson on 3 different counts - his was a well kent face to many (being a GROG of many years standing); he had been an enthusiastic rugby player of a certain vintage and he was an erstwhile rugby commentator, all reasons to look forward to what promised to be an interesting talk. No-one was disappointed! Unusually for a GROGS speaker, Iain gave his talk a title - “The Banker and the Grocer”, for reasons which became evident as his address progressed. This was a nostalgic talk centring round players and anecdotes from a particular halcyon period of Scottish rugby history, familiar to most, though not all, present. Iain meandered through a list of famous players and stories dug out from his own notes and a lifetime of rugby memories. His starting point describing a life centred around his love of rugby was his first visit to Murrayfield in 1954 where he had witnessed some of the top internationalists of the day plying their trade. This was where he had first seen the legendary Hughie McLeod of Hawick who had, according to fellow internationalist, Ewen Ferguson, given an inspirational captain’s team talk which few of his listeners were able to fathom. Other big names from those times tripped off Iain’s tongue - Adam Robson, Arthur Smith, Ron Glasgow and David Rollo (he of stockings down to his ankles fame), at the mention of whom a buzz of recognition went round the room. He talked fondly of Scotland’s win over France in Paris in 1994 and the advent of Gregor Townsend’s ‘Toonie flip’. After a brief mention of the 1955 British Lions tour of S. Africa, Iain allowed himself a moment of personal nostalgia by recalling his playing days with Bellahouston Accies and its merger with Albert Road Accies, leading to the introduction of stand-off Johnny Hewitt, the “Banker” of his title. The “Grocer” was Angus Cameron of GHSFP, Scotland and Lions fame and, like the Banker, a stand-off. His final recollection was of a challenge match at Old Anniesland in 1955 between the British Lions and a combined select of Glasgow High FP and Glasgow Accies, narrowly won by the hosts. Iain was a speaker who clearly relished his fond memories as did his highly appreciative audience.