THREE days after picking up a second gold medal at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, Alex Marshall was back at a bowling green.

He was not playing, though; instead, he was watching his nephew, 14-year-old Dean Riva, taking part in a junior tournament in Ayr.

The 47-year-old Tranent man left the athletes’ village at 7.30am after his Team Scotland colleague Paul Foster’s dad picked him up.

An hour’s sleep to recharge the batteries was followed by the tournament in Ayr.

He said: “We got there at about 11am to watch my nephew but the first two and a half hours I was signing autographs and taking photographs with kids, which is great for the sport.” Alex, known as Tattie, doubled his Commonwealth Games gold tally with victory in both the pairs and the fours in Glasgow.

Alex, who works with Haddington-based sports and leisurewear distributors Crystals Ltd, and his pairs partner Foster came through a titanic duel with the English pairing of Andrew Knapper and Sam Tolchard last Sunday to reach the final of the pairs.

The match went to a nail-biting finale and Alex said: “We always knew it was going to be a tough game against the two English guys. It went right down to the wire in the last end.” The semi-final aftermath and Alex’s celebration caught the nation’s attention.

“It was plastered over Facebook and the newspapers – ‘let’s all do the Tattie’,” he said.

“It was massive on Facebook and Twitter.You get caught up in the emotions of the times and I think a lot of people thought it was a gesture to the crowd but it was purely a celebration.” A 20-3 pairs final victory over Malaysia was followed by a 16-8 win over England in the final of the fours.

Alex said: “Winning two golds in your home country – I don’t think you can top that.

“I won gold in the pairs in Manchester in 2002 and Melbourne in 2006 but it was only one event you could be involved in.” And a memorable competition was topped when it was revealed Alex would be carrying the Saltire in the closing ceremony.

He said: “Carrying the flag was just the icing on the cake. It was a surreal moment.” Marshall is a legend in the sport, having amassed a record 19 world titles.

Of his future, he said: “I would like to do the Commonwealth singles or the Outdoor World Bowls Championships, which I lost in the finals in Ayr in 2004. Those are the two things I would like to achieve before I retire but that will not be for a while yet.

“The Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in four years’ time is something myself and Paul Foster spoke about. But we’ve got the World Bowls Championships in Christchurch, New Zealand, in 2016.” Alex thanked his employers, and the Scottish Institute of Sport for their support, along with his wife Diane for “putting up with me for so long”.

It was also through the sport that Alex would meet Diane. The pair met more than 20 years ago after a prizegiving at Gifford Bowling Club, with Diane never far from his side since.

She said: “I absolutely love watching bowls – you do get caught up in the moment.

“There were a couple of really close games and you are sitting beside the crowd and can feel the tension. Then, the crowd just erupts and you know it is your husband and just feel so proud.” Gifford Bowling Club’s secretary Brian Douglas said: “All the members are really chuffed and overjoyed about what he’s done. The club are delighted to have him as a member.

“The achievements of the whole team has really put bowls back on the sporting map – and we hope it attracts some young members, because we don’t have many.” County MSP Iain Gray added: “Athletes from East Lothian enjoyed stunning success at the Games, with Alex Marshall very much at the forefront.

“He has been a fantastic ambassador for his sport, and East Lothian, for many years.

“However, his success in Glasgow, including being chosen to be Team Scotland’s flag-bearer at the closing ceremony, has certainly secured his place as one of Scotland’s greatest ever sporting stars.

“The county can be very proud of Tattie.”