FOUR former presidents of Ross High Rugby Club have been recognised as part of an impressive refurbishment of the clubhouse.

Four new circular tables have been created, each of them complete with the name of a deceased president of the club.

John Tinlin, the current president of the club, who will kick off the new season in East Region League Division One, said he had wanted to do something to recognise those presidents before him who had sadly passed away.

He said: “The very first president, Bill Monteith, was headteacher at Ross High School when the club was first formed.

“Tommy Johnstone was a stalwart from the beginning. He sold raffle tickets to buy the first set of strips and was involved in the whole build-up of the club.

“The next president was Jackie Forbes and he did six years as president.

“It is a great way to honour somebody like that and then there is the legend Scott Glynn.”

The tables were created by Daniel Galt of Ormiston.

Together, the four presidents (Bill Monteith 1971-1974; Tommy Johnstone 1974-1976; Jackie Forbes 1976-1982; and Scott Glynn 2005-2014) have 20 years’ experience in the role.

The tables are part of a much larger scheme at the club, with members raising almost £23,000 to help cover the cost of the clubhouse refurbishment.

The project has included modernising the ladies’ toilets as well as putting in a new kitchen at the clubhouse on Tranent’s Blawearie Road.

Mr Tinlin felt it was a fitting gesture to mark 50 years of Ross High RFC.

He said: “It is an idea I had in my head.

“I have refurbished the main hall. I’ve totally ripped the whole place out and built a new bar; we’ve spent £40,000 in the lockdown.”

The club president said the plan had always been to refurbish the clubhouse but the lockdown period had allowed them to get it done.

Plans are being drawn up for an official opening, with the main hall to be renamed the Scott Glynn MBE Suite, as lockdown restrictions are relaxed.