Bob Valentine

Born: February 22, 1941;

Died: June 11, 2024

Bob Valentine, who has died aged 83, was a “Teri”, a born-and-bred Hawick man. He was proud to have represented his hometown rugby team with distinction in the early 1960s before enjoying a successful career in professional Rugby League with Huddersfield, Wakefield Trinity and Keighley.

As a hard-tackling wing forward, he made his debut aged 19 before playing over 60 games for a Hawick side that claimed an unofficial Scottish Championship and several Border League titles and 7s cups. Bill McLaren, the “Voice of Rugby”, was instrumental in his rugby development as his coach at Hawick High School, switching him from stand off into the forwards due to Bob’s reluctance to pass the ball.

He also represented the South of Scotland and Scottish Borders XV eight times including his last Union match, for the South against the touring All Blacks. Bob was widely considered a future Scottish cap like brothers David and Alex but signing professional forms for Huddersfield ruled that out.

In a 12-year League career, he played some 400 matches mostly at loose forward, winning one cap for Great Britain against Australia and was selected as reserve for Britain in the 1968 World Cup in Australasia. He also twice represented the Other Nationalities team, an international select consisting of non-English players.

Robert Angus Valentine was born into a remarkable sporting family in Hawick, the youngest of four children of parents Alex and Catherine. His father, known as Paddy after being brought up partly in Belfast, was boilerman at the local skinworks and had been a talented sportsman, winning many medals at different sports. Well known locally, he was a starter at Borders Games, masseur for the rugby team and helped with groundsman duties at Mansfield Park.

Eldest brother David was a Scottish rugby internationalist before playing League also for Huddersfield and captained the Great Britain team that won Rugby League’s inaugural World Cup in 1954; brother Alex, also a Scotland rugby cap, was a British international hammer thrower and record holder who represented Scotland in the 1954 Commonwealth Games while sister Rena was a noted Borders hockey player who also ran for Teviotdale Harriers. Bob was always full of admiration for their sporting achievements.

Initially he attended Drumlanrig primary school before going to Hawick High School where he played for the 1st XV. After leaving school he undertook an electrician’s apprenticeship and began playing for semi junior Hawick Wanderers before joining junior side Hawick Linden whom he captained.

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Bob made his debut for The Greens in 1960 when international wing forward Adam Robson was selected to play for the South, soon becoming a regular thereafter. Hawick were then stacked with top players, names like Hugh McLeod, George Stevenson, Norman Suddon, Oliver and Derrick Grant to mention but a few.

Regular appearances for the South followed culminating in selection against the All Blacks on 16th November 1963, forming a Hawick back row with Oliver and Derrick Grant. Despite the calibre of opposition featuring Wilson Whineray, Mac Herewini, Kel Tremain and Colin Meads, the South acquitted themselves well, the All Blacks narrowly prevailing 8-0 at a packed Mansfield Park.

In one press report the Grants and Bob were referred to “as the best emerging back row in Scotland”. A less fond memory was a kick on the head from Colin Meads requiring Bob’s attendance at hospital for stitches and missing part of the after-match dinner.

The following day a newspaper reported that he had signed for League side Huddersfield for a reported £4,000 fee. Talks had taken place previously in the Fleece Hotel, Selkirk with the signing announcement to be delayed.

After making his debut at League, he reckoned it took him almost a year to adapt fully, including dealing with late tackles, swinging arms and learning set moves. He combined playing with work as an electrician. Selection for Other Nationalities followed and in December 1967 he earned a GB cap in a loss to Australia while captain of Huddersfield. The same season he was unlucky not to reach a Wembley Challenge Cup Final when his team lost a semi-final replay.

(Image: Bill McLaren)

In 1970 he transferred to Wakefield Trinity where he spent three seasons, considered a fans’ favourite on the terraces, before joining Keighley whom he also captained and where he finished his career in 1975. Afterwards he coached various teams including Huddersfield Colts and played some Union for Huddersfield YMCA.

On 14th February 1964 at St George’s Kirk, Hawick, Bob married Doreen Grieve, a skirt binder and model with Braemar knitwear whom he met at a local dance. The couple enjoyed a long happy marriage during which they had a daughter Gillian. Away from rugby, Bob became director of a catering company, held a supervisory position in the building trade and latterly was a schools’ caretaker/janitor. He was interested in all sports, attended the Moscow Olympics in 1980 and played some golf and bowls.

A true son of Hawick, he visited regularly from Huddersfield, taking part in Common Riding rideouts and becoming a Mosstrooper. Bob also travelled widely making three trips to Australasia including visits to sister Rena in New Zealand as well as to Singapore and Hawaii.

He and Doreen retired to Hawick in 2006 where they happily remained. Family meant everything to Bob who especially adored his grand and great-grandchildren. He had a keen interest in family genealogy which he researched extensively.

He is survived by Doreen, Gillian, grandchildren Jordan and Amy and great grandchildren Arthur, Louis, Olivia and Sophia.

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