It was sunny afternoon and the Holy Trinity Church in St. Andrews was always going to full for the celebration of the life of Renton Laidlaw on Monday 25th April.
The AGWs former President, Chairman and Secretary passed last October but given the then pandemic lockdown measures it was not possible for more than just a handful to attend the funeral.
Six months since Renton’s passing and through the superb efforts of Mitchell Platts, and working with Renton’s sister, Jennifer, it was a wonderful celebration of Renton’s life.
Speakers included former European Tour CEO Ken Schofield, AGW President Lewine Mair, former Sports Editor Tom Clarke of the London Evening Standard, IMGs Rupert Hampel, and Alistair Low, a former Captain at the R & A and past Chairman of Scottish Golf.
The R & As past Executive Director of Business Affairs, Mike Tate played a video of Renton’s last interview in June last year. The video shows Renton explaining how he got into golf writing while there’s a hilarious revelation from Renton of the mix-up with award winners for the AGW Golf Writers Trophy just hours ahead of the 1989 AGW annual dinner at Royal Troon.
To view Renton’s four-minute tale of the AGW dinner mix-up click on the following: https://twitter.com/AGWgolfwriters/status/1518650787030835201
Others in attendance included former Ryder Cup captain Bernard Gallacher, and one of Renton’s closest friends, along with past R&A CEO Peter Dawson, former European Tour CEO George O’Grady, Golf Channel colleague and friend, Ken Brown, and one of Renton’s and Jennifer’s dearest friends in Kathie Shearer, who had travelled from Australia to be present.
It was also wonderful to see a big gathering of AGW members led by Lewine along with the present Chairman and also many former Chairman. Members also travelling from Ireland and Spain to be in attendance.
You can view the full 70-odd minute celebration by clicking on this link & then going right to the bottom of the page; https://www.funeralstreamingscotland.co.uk/henrylaidlaw
If you have any difficulty in logging-in you will also find the video on YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=On4If5_lCp4
The church service was followed by a gathering in the Old Course hotel where many more guests paid tribute to Renton, and with a past AGW Chairman hosting a tribute session with present Chairman Martin Dempster and another past Chairman in Derek Lawrenson.
A selection of photographs from the gathering at the Old Course Hotel, and with thanks again to Dave Cannon, can now be found below.
TV cameraman David Maxwell (Photograph with thanks Dave Cannon)
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