Tributes to East Lothian former rugby player and charity founder who raised £300k for local causes

TRIBUTES have been paid to former rugby player turned charity fundraiser and after-dinner speaker Scott Glynn, who died yesterday, aged 56.

Mr Glynn, who set up the Walk With Scott Foundation, raising more than £300,000 for local causes and organisations, was named Community Champion in the 2017 Evening News Local Heroes Awards and received an MBE last year for his services to charity.

He launched the foundation after marking his 50th birthday by walking 57 miles between every rugby club in East Lothian and playing a match at each one.

Mr Glynn, from Tranent, described rugby as his passion. He first played at a very young age for Preston Lodge High and then Ross High, where he was president for ten years.

He ended his playing career on a high, as part of the Scottish Legends and The Crusaders charity team to beat the Wasps Legends.

He also ran a sporting memories group for dementia and stroke sufferers and was chairman of the Recharge youth and community facility which works with young people in East Lothian.

Promoting Organ Donation

In March 2017 Mr Glynn was given only a few months to live after being diagnosed with liver cancer, unless a donor could be found. He had a transplant in October that year and just seven months later was fit enough to take part in a 30 mile sponsored walk.

He then devoted much energy to promoting organ donation, speaking in public about post-transplant health and fitness and talking to patients awaiting transplants.

On his website, he said: “My local community means the world to me, and I make an effort to give my time whenever I can.”

Mr Glynn, who had also worked as an actor with appearances in TV shows such as Taggart, called a halt to his career as an after-dinner speaker and comedian last year due to health issues.

'Goodbye to the big man'

Fellow Tranent resident Davie Martin shared the sad news of Mr Glynn’s passing on social media yesterday.

His post read: “You are at peace now big man.

“Heartbreaking message of sadness from the Glynn family.

“My thoughts and prayers are with them all during this sad time.

“Today we said goodbye to the big man with the big heart who passed away peacefully this morning at 8.20am with my mum by his side.

“He had the toughest of journeys but he fought hard and battled bravely to stay as long as he could with his family.”