Doddie Weir's sons honour father at memorial

The children of Doddie Weir have paid tribute to their father by reading a poem about him during an emotional memorial service in the Borders.

The former Scotland rugby international died six years after he was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND).

His sons, Hamish, Angus and Ben, wore tartan suits - similar to those worn by their father - for the service at Melrose Parish Church.

And they recited Requiem for Doddie (The Mad Giraffe) by Timmy Douglas.

Weir was once dubbed a "mad giraffe" for his unique playing style.

He was capped 61 times between 1990 and 2000, and after his MND diagnosis he raised millions of pounds for MND research and support through his My Name'5 Doddie foundation.

In 2019 he received an OBE for services to rugby, MND research and the Borders community. He died last month, aged 52.

The memorial service was live streamed on Scottish Rugby's website and the audio was also relayed to about 1,000 members of the public at the Greenyards rugby ground of Melrose Rugby Club.

Before the ceremony, Weir's wife, Kathy, thanked people for their support in the two weeks since he died.

"As a family, we have been overwhelmed by the many messages we have received from all over the world," she said in a statement.

"They have brought great comfort to me and the boys.

"We really appreciate people taking the time to share their own memories of Doddie and let us know we are in their thoughts."

"The memorial service will give those attending a chance to pay their respects and come together in Doddie's name," she added.

"We understand not everyone will be able to make it, particularly given the time of year, but we know you're all thinking of us."

His close friend and former teammate Carl Hogg read a eulogy to the farmer, rugby player and campaigner.

He said he would "cherish" the memories he shared with Weir.

"Dodie had an amazing life," he said. "It was action packed and full of fun, with lots of adventure and lots of love."

He concluded by paying tribute to the hope which Doddie Weir gave everyone.

His motto, he said, was: "Enjoy life while you can - you just don't know what is round the corner".

Former teammate Rob Wainwright and Scottish Rugby chairman John Jeffrey also gave tributes to the rugby legend.

They spoke of his playful antics on and off the rugby pitch, his determined campaigning for MND, and how he centred his life around his family.

Mr Wainwright called Weir "one of the best loved icons of the game of rugby".

He added: "He has moved mountains, galvanised government, inspired nations and set in motion a crusade that will only end when we find a cure for this awful disease."

Mr Jeffrey, who is also a trustee of the foundation, said Weir's impact went "way beyond" the rugby community in Scotland and the rest of the British Isles.

He highlighted the last six years of Weir's life, saying his jokes became more embarrassing, his humour more childish, his pranks more outrageous and his tartan suits more outlandish.

He said the success of Weir's foundation was down to him being "dogged, determined and sheer bloody-minded".

And he paid a tearful tribute to Weir's wife Kathy, saying how proud he was of her and his boys.