Summary

  • A memorial service has been held for 61-times capped former Scotland international Doddie Weir who died six years after he was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND)

  • Former rugby player John Jeffrey told the gathering at Melrose Parish Church that Weir believed it was "not a matter of if, but a matter of when" there would be a cure for the neurological disease

  • "He touched our heartstrings to the end. His life and times were magic," - the final line of a poem read by Doddie Weir's three sons at his memorial service

  • Former rugby player Carl Hogg also paid tribute, saying that the 52-year-old "inspired fundraisers and agitated politicians"

  • "Going Home", the theme tune to film Local Hero, was played on the organ at the start of the celebration and fiddle music was played at the end

  • Weir was given an OBE in 2019 for services to rugby, to MND research and to the Borders community

  • Everyone attending had been encouraged to wear tartan - a request made by Weir himself

Live Reporting

BBC Scotland News

  1. Crowd gathers to mark a special life at Melrose Rugby Club

    Kevin Jackson
    BBC Scotland

    Melrose stand

    As well as 450 invited friends and family attending the memorial service in Melrose Parish Church, around 1000 members of the public, many wearing different colours of tartan, have gathered in the stand of Melrose Rugby Club.

    They have started taking their seats to pay their respects to Doddie and to listen to an audio feed from the church.

    Many are observing the request for a bit of tartan.

  2. Gregor Townsend: It's team-mates coming together to say goodbye

    Gregor TownsendPA Media

    Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend arrives at Melrose Parish Church wearing a beanie hat to keep out the cold and a tartan scarf for Doddie.

    Townsend played alongside Weir for Scotland, the South and the Borders, and tells BBC Scotland he hopes there is some comfort in the memorial service.

    Today will be a celebration as Doddie has touched so many people. In many ways,today is also a reunion of old friends and team-mates coming together to say goodbye.

    Gregor Townsend, Friend, teammate and Scotland head coach

  3. A hero and an inspiration - by royal approval

    The Prince and Princess of WalesGetty Images

    The Prince and Princess of Wales described Doddie Weir as a "hero"

    Today's service at Melrose Parish Church is set to hear recounted memories of the incomparable Doddie Weir.

    It was a similar story last month, when Weir's death month sparked tributes from outside the sporting world.

    The Prince and Princess of Wales said Weir's "immense talent on the pitch as well as his tireless efforts to raise awareness of MND were an inspiration".

    "He will be hugely missed," they tweeted, adding that he was a "hero".

    Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon described Weir as "one of our nation's sporting legends". She tweeted: "This is so terribly sad."

    Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said "rest in peace" and all his family's thoughts were with Weir's family.

  4. 'He was a trailblazer and leaves an incredible legacy'

    Former team-mate says Doddie Weir leaves an 'unrivalled legacy'

    Doddie Weir became a champion for people living with MND after being diagnosed in 2016.

    He raised more than £8m through his My Name'5 Doddie foundation, and former team-mate Scott Hastings describes him as a "trailblazer" who pushed research forward.

    "He has brought the disease to the shop window. He has rattled cages, disrupted, challenged, cajoled. He has encouraged all these researchers to work together to find a cure for MND. Without doubt he was a trailblazer and he leaves an incredible legacy behind him."

    Scott Hastings, Former Scotland rugby international

  5. 'With Doddie, there's always a story and always a laugh'

    Oor Wullie decked in the My Name5 Doddie Foundation tartan greets well-wishers at the gates of The Greenyards

    A tribute to Doddie, in the style of comic book character Oor Wullie, at Greenyards rugby club

    Reverend Rosie Frew will be leading the service at Melrose Parish Church.

    She expects it to be poignant but also hugely uplifting.

    "With every person I've spoken to over the last few weeks, there's always a Doddie story and there's always a laugh.

    "I think it will be a day of celebration. Yes, it's sad and we have to remember that at the heart of it is a family who have lost a husband, a dad, a brother, a son.

    "But it's also a wonderful day of celebration for a community and for his foundation."

  6. 'His life was built around his family'

    Weir familyGetty Images

    Doddie Weir with his wife Kathy and sons Hamish, Angus and Ben when he received his OBE in 2019

    Friends and former team-mates will join the Weir family at the Melrose Parish church service.

    They have been paying tribute to the former marauding Scotland forward.

    Jill Douglas, who is chief executive of the My Name'5 Doddie foundation, told BBC Scotland: "The heart of today will be his close family and friends because that was everything to Doddie - his life was built around is family.

    "And so it's fitting that they are so closely involved and have put together what will be a really amazing and special service."

  7. Former rugby stars start to arrive in Melrose

    gavin hastingsPA Media

    Scotland and British and Irish Lions hero Gavin Hastings

    Friends and fellow rugby stars have started arriving at Melrose Parish Church ahead of the service, which is due to get under way from 13:00.

    Kenny LoganPA Media

    Former Scotland winger Kenny Logan

    Chris HoyPA Media

    Olympic cycling legend Sir Chris Hoy is among the early arrivals

    Gary ArmstrongPA Media

    Former Scotland scrum-half Gary Armstrong (centre)

    phil vickeryPA Media

    Ex-England international Phil Vickery with My Name'5 Doddie foundation CEO Jill Douglas

    Carl HoggPA Media

    Ex-Melrose and Scotland player Carl Hogg (centre)

  8. Expect the service to be a blaze of colour

    Paul Thompson, who is head of fundraising at the Motor Neurone Disease Foundation, will be at the service and expects it to be a joyous blaze of colour.

    He said: "I would image the people of Greenyards and Melrose will be bedecked and that tartan will be everywhere, because the first thing you think about with Doddie is his huge tartan suits.

    "So we'll have to find as much tartan as possible."

  9. Tartan at the heart of the celebration

    Rory McIlroy and Doddie WeirGetty Images

    Doddie Weir, in one of his trademark tartan suits, pictured with golfing superstar Rory McIlroy

    Everyone attending the service, which is also being relayed to the Greenyards rugby club, is being asked to wear tartan.

    It follows a request made by Weir himself who was renowned for his hugely colourful tartan suits.

    In fact, tartan became a symbol of Weir's charity work after his MND diagnosis.

    His My Name'5 Doddie foundation raised millions of pounds for research and support.

  10. Welcome

    Good afternoon and welcome to our live coverage of a service celebrating the life of Scotland rugby legend Doddie Weir.

    The 61-times capped Scotland international died last month at the age of 52.

    His death came six years after he was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND).

    The memorial service will take place at Melrose Parish Church at 13:00 and you can follow it here.