Image source, Getty Images

A statement issued by Doddie Weir's wife Kathy on behalf of the family offered thanks to all those who had been "incredibly supportive" over the past two weeks.

"As a family, we have been overwhelmed by the many messages we have received from all over the world," she said.

"They have brought great comfort to me and the boys.

"We really appreciate people taking the time to share their own memories of Doddie and let us know we are in their thoughts."

She said the service, which has just concluded at Melrose Parish Church, gave everyone attending a chance to pay their respects.

"We understand not everyone will be able to make it, particularly given the time of year, but we know you're all thinking of us," she added.

A closing hymn - Guide Me, O Thy Great Redeemer - and a rendition of Doddie's Dream bring the memorial service in his honour to an end.

Hundreds gathered at Melrose Parish Church and a much bigger audience at Melrose Rugby Club and watching online heard tributes from former team-mates and his family to a man of huge determination, warmth and fun.

Carl Hogg said Weir gave everyone "magical memories" while Rob Wainright described him as one of the game's best-loved icons.

John Jeffrey said he was simply "a legend" while his three sons recited a fitting poem to their father - the man once dubbed a "mad giraffe" for his unique playing style.

Image source, Getty Images

Jeffrey becomes emotional as he describes a difficult recent meeting on the future of the foundation post-Doddie.

Doddie typically told them to "knuckle down and find a cure for this bloody disease".

His voice cracks as he hammers home the final message.

"Doddie, we will not let you or let them down.

"You are a legend and your legacy will be that we do find a cure for MND."

Jeffrey relives fundraising efforts which Doddie Weir's friends made to take care of his family following his diagnosis.

He says Doddie was hugely embarrassed that money was being raised for him.

Doddie declared he would not accept any more money because he "was the lucky one". He said he had a family to care for whatever threw at him and this evolved into the setting up of his foundation.

Jeffrey makes a tearful tribute to Doddie's wife Kathy, saying how proud he was of her and his boys.

He quotes Doddie as saying MND was not incurable, just underfunded.

And he describes Doddie's charity as "a train that was out of control" and highlights some of its achievements.

Former Scotland international John Jeffrey - famously known throughout his career as JJ - is next with his tribute.

As a friend, player, farmer, Kelso boy and a trustee of the My Name'5 Doddie foundation, the two men shared a lot in common.

He describes his pal as "an absolute pest" both on the pitch and off. He says he never changed and has been an absolute pest through his treatment and to medics and scientists.

Jeffrey highlights the last six years of Doddie's life, saying his jokes became more embarrassing, his humour more childish, his pranks more outrageous and his tartan suits more outlandish.

"If anything, Doddie got worse with age," he says.

He brings up a side of Doddie not seen by the wider world, which explains the success of his foundation, putting it down to him being "dogged, determined and sheer bloody-minded".

Morgan Spence
BBC Scotland, at The Greenyards

As the service goes on at Melrose Parish Church, the rain here at the Greenyards hasn’t deterred fans and friends coming along to say a final goodbye to Doddie.

Several hundred people, many wearing Doddie’s signature tartan, are sitting in the stand of Melrose RFC’s stadium. An audio feed of the service is playing through the loud speaker system.

Earlier, Celtic rock group The Red Hot Chilli Pipers took to the pitch to perform.

People I’ve spoken to here have been sharing their memories of Doddie, paying tribute to his positive attitude and his fundraising efforts in aid of Motor Neurone Disease research.

Rob Wainwright implores everyone listening around the world to get involved in funding research.

He says finding a cure for MND would be "Doddie's trophy".

"Goodbye old friend," he concludes.

Former Scotland skiller Rob Wainwright says statistics and trophies are only one part of the story of any sportsman.

He says there are two types of people - radiators and drains - and Doddie was definitely a radiator.

The number of people gathered here shows how much people thought of him, says Wainwright.

He describes him as "one of the best-loved icons of the game".

Image source, Getty Images

By Timmy Douglas

The legendary mad giraffe that all of us can picture, who raised our spirits, made us laugh, has played his final fixture.

With Doddie’s final tryline crossed, all opposition scatter.

It isn’t that he won or lost, its how he lived that matters.

Self- deprecating, self-reliant, hero to the nation, a truly humble, gentle giant, total inspiration.

He faced life with a gleeful grin and charismatic laughter, “though well aware he couldn’t win.

Daft laddies aye grow dafter.

We’ll see you at the Greenyards, Doddie, Eildons on the skyline, sound in wind and limb and body, charging for the tryline.

We’ll see outrageous tartan suits appear at every level, cracking jokes and cocking snooks and laughing at the Devil.

Our heart reaches out to Kathy and her laddies.

Remembering’s hold light and power soften grief and sadness.

This man was everybody’s friend, his passing truly tragic.

He touched our heartstrings to the end. His life and times were magic

Hamish, Angus and Ben Weir make a striking trio in their tartan suits as they get up to deliver a poem written about their father.

Requiem for Doddie (The Mad Giraffe) was written by Timmy Douglas.

It refers to the name bestowed upon 6ft 5in Doddie by commentator Bill McLaren.

The boys are all shy smiles as they deliver their third of the tribute, a laugh for the line "we'll see outrageous tartan suits appear at every level".

But mention of "Kathy and her laddies" brings emotion, the boys ending on the line "his life and times were magic".

Carl Hogg concludes by paying tribute to the hope which Doddie Weir gave everyone.

His motto, he says, was "enjoy life while you can - you just don't know what is round the corner".

He tells the congregation they owe it to Doddie's memory to continue his work to fund research into MND.

Image source, Getty Images

Everyone has their own stories about Doddie, Carl Hogg tells the memorial service.

He says he had "magical memories" of their time together at the Greenyards with Melrose before they went on into the Scotland squad.

He says singing the national anthem on his first cap next to his "best mate" was something he would never forget.

Carl Hogg describes Doddie Weir as a "man of principle" and says "woe betide" anyone who crossed him.

He had "determination in abundance" which made him a loved and respected figure across the world.

He says he was "acutely shy" and reveals how Doddie loved equestrian sports before turning his hand to rugby.

Friend and former team-mate Carl Hogg welcomes everyone to the Borders as he leads tributes to Doddie Weir at the church service.

"Doddie had an amazing life, it was action packed full of fun, lots of adventure and lots of love," he says.

He says there has been "heartfelt respect" shown in the media tributes to him but first and foremost he was a loving husband and father.

Today is a celebration of life, and Doddie's closest friends and team mates have plenty of happy memories of their relationships on and off the pitch.

Rugby elder statesman Scott Hastings has been sharing his on social media as loved ones arrive for the service.

"There will only ever be one Doddie Weir," he says.

Doddie's sister Kirsty Mundell steps up to give the first reading, Psalm 23.

Rev Rosie Frew follows with a reading of Luke 2:1-20, the Christmas story, and conducts a prayer referencing good news and a message of love and promise and hope.

She says they take strength from the words.

This leads into the Christmas carol O little town of Bethlehem.

Image source, PA Media

Doddie Weir's sons are fittingly wearing tartan suits, a statement that was their father's trademark.

We will continue to bring you all the tributes from the service at Melrose Parish Church and beyond.

Image source, PA Media

Away from the main church service, Alastair Thomson, who used to play rugby at Melrose, is among those who have turned out to pay his respects.

Alastair, from Galashiels, says he feels it's important to be at the Greenyards ground where Weir used to play.

"I just wanted to say goodbye to the big man.

"He was just a genuinely nice man."

The service of celebration, led by Reverend Rosie Frew, has got under way at Melrose Parish Church.

She says people gather with a mixture of emotions, but all will celebrate the life of a loved one, friend and former team-mate.

The opening hymn, to mark Weir's love for the outdoor life, is All Things Bright an Beautiful.