Gerry Ralph

Died: 17th February 2016

GERRY Ralph, who has died aged 65, was a leading figure in Scottish hockey and, as a coach and administrator, was instrumental in developing the sport at national and European level. He was a former president of Scottish Hockey and former chairman of the European Hockey Federation Development Committee

Son of the well-known Paisley dentist Tommy Ralph and his teacher wife Mary, he started his education at St Catherine’s Primary in Paisley before following his four older brothers to St Aloysius College in Glasgow where he excelled at sports, captaining the College 1st XV and the Cricket first X1.

Following school, he completed a degree in estimating at the College of Building and Printing and worked for many years in the construction industry before joining the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) as a senior tutor.

His first claim to fame was as a 16-year-old acting as scorer for Kelburne Cricket Club in their semi final in the first ever Scottish Cricket Cup (The Rothmans) against West Lothian at Shawholm, which ended in a tie. The rules of the game dictated that the team scoring fastest in the first 20 overs should be the winner. Mr Ralph, meticulous as always, had noted the relevant scores and when the local reporter, Bruce Lewis, confirmed his figures Kelburne were declared the winners and went on to beat Perthshire in the final. Mr Ralph, of course, claimed this victory as his own.

Later in his sporting career, he sustained a serious rugby injury, which ended his time on the pitch. However, undaunted, he turned his attention to his second love which was hockey and became heavily involved in coaching and administration. He was a pivotal figure in the development and success of Kelburne Hockey Club and was instrumental in setting up and developing the junior section of the club and in particular the girls’ side. His influence was key in taking the club into the 21st century.

In recognition of his contribution to the hockey world, all hockey games on the Saturday following his death observed a minute silence and the GB ladies team playing in Australia and the Scottish Hockey ladies playing in South Africa wore black armbands as a mark of respect.

Marijke Fleuren, president of the European Hockey Federation, said Mr Ralph had been devoted to the development of youth hockey all his life, both in his own club of Kelburne and later when he brought his knowledge and dedication to his work for the European Hockey Federation.

"Gerry was instrumental in developing our youth leadership programmes and was later responsible for setting up our very successful Youth Panel as chairman of out Developmental Projects Committee," she said. "His softly spoken manners, kindness coupled with his leadership skills were the perfect combination to develop our incredible young leaders.”

Aside from his passion for hockey, his main love was for his family - his wife Maria, his children Claire, Mark and Nicola, their spouses and his six grandchildren.

His children followed in his footsteps with his love of the sport of hockey. His son Mark received in excess of 100 caps for his country. It was with great pride that Mr Ralph watched Mark and his daughter-in-law Catriona represent Scotland in the Commonwealth Games.

He was a man that not only loved life, loved his family, friends and colleagues. He was a man who shaped lives, and influenced the futures of so many.

MICHELLE WELSH