Perth woman Betty Loudon, matriarch of a remarkable Scottish sporting family, has died aged 92.
Betty played hockey and netball for Scotland, her husband Bob was a Scottish international canoeist and their three children, Edith, Peter and Katie, all represented Scotland at curling.
They are one of the few Scottish families where every member played for their country.
Former Evening Telegraph journalist, James Masson, described Betty as being a sporting great.
Pedigree in sport
It was no surprise that Betty became involved in sport. Her father, Peter Gavigan, played football for Fulham, Clapton Orient, St Johnstone, Dundee, Montrose and Dundee United.
He was also a reserve for the Wembley Wizards, the Scotland team who crushed England 5-1 at Wembley in 1928.
Forty-four years later, in 1972, Betty graced the Wembley turf when she was the umpire at the England-Scotland women’s hockey international.
Scotland won 2-1 with another Perth woman, Marietta Craigie, netting both Scottish goals. The game was live on TV and 70,000 watched it in person.
Football
The sporting dynasty is being carried on in the Loudon family with Betty’s grandsons, Ewan and Ross, both involved in football, Ewan playing for Brechin City and Ross for Scone Thistle.
Betty’s son, Peter, said: “Our mum was an incredible woman who was adored by my dad, Bob, as well by Edith, myself and Katie.
“Her hard work, her passion for sport, her formidable character, her sociable
nature, her humour and her love of life are some of the many traits that characterised this amazing and loving person.”
Elizabeth Mary Gavigan was born on August 5, 1930, at Perth Royal Infirmary, a first child to Peter and Nan. The eldest of four, Betty embraced the role as big sister to Edith, Stewart and Rodger.
The family home at that time was in Gowrie Street before a move to 54
Balhousie Street shortly after.
Swimmer
Mum and sister Edith developed a love for swimming and began taking part in many competitions.
She attended St John’s Primary School then Perth Academy before moving on to
Dunfermline College of Physical Education where she graduated in 1950.
Betty started work as a physical education teacher covering many schools.
After a few years, the offer of a job teaching in Canada was too good to turn down and off she went to Ontario.
Promotion
Betty later returned to Scotland and spent the rest of her working life teaching at various schools in Perth and the surrounding area, becoming head of physical education at Perth’s St Columba’s High in 1967. She retired in 1989.
It was at this point she was diagnosed as a Type 1 diabetic.
No one was exempt from her teaching methods. Brother Rodger recalls being given 100 lines by his big sister for talking in class.
In 1963, Betty and Bob married at St John’s RC Church in Perth.
Their first child Edith arrived in 1964 followed by Peter in 1966 and Katie in
1968.
Peter said: “Most weekends were spent taking part in sport and socialising with those involved at Perthshire hockey and rugby club including mum’s lifelong pals Mary Hood and Madge Fair.
“Mum’s own sporting achievements are exceptional. Senior sports champion at St John’s School, county-level swimmer, played for Perth Academy FP, and Midlands District and Scotland at hockey. She took part in matches at both Murrayfield and Wembley.
“She was also captain of the Scotland netball team, playing in some of the very first international netball matches.
Curling
“She was Scottish senior curling champion and a past president of the Royal Caledonian Curling Club Ladies Branch.
“When her playing days were over, mum went on to be a top-class netball,
hockey and curling umpire.
“She played a key part in the formation of Perth and Kinross Sports Council in 1975 and her passion was for people to participate in sport and enjoy the benefits that brought to their health and well-being.
“Mum was a spiritual person and her faith always played a big part in her life. It was her faith that helped her through the last few months.”
Betty is survived by husband Bob, children Edith, Peter and Katie, brother Rodger, son-in-law Eric, daughter-in-law Angela, Katie’s partner John and grandsons Ewan and Ross.
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