Bob Aitken

Born: February 17, 1935

Died: June 10, 2024

Bob Aitken, who has died aged 89, was a champion Highland Games athlete who achieved the remarkable feat of winning the prestigious Chieftain’s Challenge Cup at Aboyne Games nine times consecutively between 1960 and 1968. It was awarded to the athlete gaining most points in combined “light” and “heavy” events, in effect the best all-rounder.

Over some 15 years in open competition throughout Scotland, he earned his rightful place among the best Games athletes, equally adept at throwing the Scots (wooden shafted) hammer as high jumping. He had a deep love of and respect for the Games and their traditions, the competitive element never infringing on friendships made by travelling with fellow athletes like Bill Anderson and Sandy Gray to and from venues.

After competing he became a highly respected and popular official, judging regularly at Braemar, many Grampian Games and elsewhere, his standing such that he was awarded life membership of Braemar Royal Highland Society and honorary membership of Lonach Highland Gathering; he was also appointed honorary vice-president of Grampian Games Association. While he enjoyed high-profile games and being introduced to Queen Elizabeth, he also loved smaller community oriented ones, Loch Lee Games in Glenesk being a favourite.

Bob was a well-known, universally liked and highly regarded figure in north-east farming and rural communities, especially in his native Howe of the Mearns. A farmer most of his working life, he engaged successfully in related pursuits including ploughing competitions, showing sheep and cattle and following his keen interest in Clydesdale horses, preparing them for shows and often leading them into the arena.

A true countryman, his knowledge of horses, rural craftsmanship and country matters generally was extensive while his willingness to share knowledge enhanced by his excellent communicational skills was widely appreciated.

Robert Aitken was born in Dellavaird hamlet in the parish of Glenbervie, eight miles south of Stonehaven. His parents were John and Euphemia, Bob being one of four brothers and four sisters. His father was farmer at Inchbreck Farm which provided Bob and siblings with a happy upbringing, where according to him meal times could resemble a Formula 1 start, “Ye didna’ hing aboot or ye’d be left hungry!”

Dellavaird was a vibrant community with various activities taking place, including the Women’s Rural Institute, Young Farmers’ Club, Ploughing and Hoeing matches and Annual Picnic and Sports where Bob made his debut, winning a prize in the under-4s race.

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He attended Brae School after which he began working on Inchbreck, later running it himself while progressing his sporting career. A good jumper capable of a 5ft standing high jump, he also began trying the heavy events as farmwork built up his strength, practising the Scots hammer regularly at home with his brothers.

Success at Glenbervie Flower Show Sports led to competing at Banchory Show in 1951 where, undeterred by first having to cycle over the taxing 1,500ft Cairn O’Mount en route, he won two prizes to launch his career.

Soon he was winning prizes at Aboyne Games for high jump and pole vault before going on to claim prizes at the Braemar Gathering, and elsewhere in heavy events also, including stone putts, hammer throws, 28lb and 56lb weights for distance and height. Although at 5’10” tall and 14 stones, Bob was not the biggest, he was powerful, dubbed by Highland Games authority David Webster as “a pocket Hercules”. In contrast to today’s athletes, he never did weight training, relying on farming strength.

Chieftain’s Challenge Cup success underlined his fitness and versatility, often competing in ten events or more in an afternoon. A scissors high jump of 6ft, pole vault of 12ft (landing on grass using steel pole with a spike to plant in the ground), a hammer throw of over 130ft and a 28lb weight throw of 75ft were performances of the highest order.

(Image: The Braemar Gathering)

As well as competing, he helped coach a number of aspiring heavy athletes including George Mackie, a future Scottish rugby internationalist and assisted Olympic shot putter, Englishman Arthur Rowe, adapt to traditional Scottish heavy events. Sons Stephen and Bruce were guided by him in heavy events with both going on to win Scottish Championships and Bruce the World Championship, making Bob understandably proud.

In 1977 as part of the Queen’s Silver Jubilee celebrations he helped establish Drumtochty Games, in a lovely nearby venue close to his heart and now one of Scotland’s most popular Games. Once retired from officiating he maintained his interest, recalling in a recent conversation how “he loved their friendly atmosphere and had fond memories of the many good friendships made”.

Very much a man of his community, Bob was immersed in many aspects of life in the Mearns. He was a committee member of the Fettercairn Show and a trustee of the James Gray Nicol Trust supporting Church of Scotland Eventide Homes.

In 1960 Bob met June Gray at a dance at the Alexandra Hotel, Stonehaven, and the couple were married at Dunnottar Kirk in 1962. They went on to enjoy a long happy marriage during which they had four children, Morag, Hazel, Stephen and Bruce.

He is survived by his wife, Morag, Hazel, Bruce, thirteen grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

JACK DAVIDSON

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