Tributes to Currie founder Kirkwood On the eve of the restart of the RBS Premier Leagues, one of the founding members of Currie RFC is being fondly remembered by all at the club. Robert Kirkwood passed away aged 77 over the festive period after a 41-year association with the club as a player and committee man. A proud Glaswegian, in his early years Kirkwood was a member of Queen's Park RFC and a commissioned officer in the Highland Light Infantry. When he was seconded to the Kings Own African Rifles in Kenya he suffered a bad arm injury. Life and work brought him to Edinburgh and Kirkwood worked as a senior manager at the Ethicon factory at Sighthill. In 1970 Bob, as he was known to his friends, was part of the "successful six" along with Jack Hogg, Roger Mclaren, Tom Chandler, David Bisset and Alex Galbraith who started the process of setting up a new rugby club in Edinburgh. They noticed that football was given more coverage than rugby in the Pink newspaper and decided to do something about it. The six were joined by Gordon Stewart and given backing and, more importantly, use of the facilities at Currie High School by the headmaster, Ronnie Paul. Together this group sent out posters and leaflets around the Currie, Balerno and Juniper Green areas and after a meeting in April of that year the club was formed. He was elected as the inaugural President of Currie RFC, a position he held for over ten years, while he also played for the club as they started out at the bottom of the ladder. As one club member put it, "he was dogged, could be stubborn and often bloody minded," traits which were key to them securing the use of two pitches at Malleny Park and the work that led to the opening of the clubhouse by Lord Balerno in 1980. After his stint as president, he was appointed an honorary vice-president and his sons Jim and Keith also played for the club. No-one was prouder than Kirkwood when Currie made it to the top flight for the first time in 1990 and won the Tennents" Shield in 1995/96. However, his smile was even wider when they clinched the Premier Division in 2006/07 and 2009/10. Prior to last Saturday's cup match with Lasswade a minute's applause was held, while he will be in many people's thoughts at Malleny Park tomorrow, when Currie start their RBS Premiership A campaign at home to Boroughmuir.