Tributes are paid to popular Lothianburn golfer Neil Fisher

Tributes have been paid to Neil Fisher, who won both the Lothians Championship and Dispatch Trophy as a member of the now defunct Lothianburn Golf Club.

Neil Fisher was a popular figure on the Lothians golf scene

Fisher, who died following a long battle with leukaemia at the age of 69, was also a well-kent face on the Capital rugby scene from his days playing for Broughton FP but his main sporting success came on the golf course.

A scratch player for three decades, he got his hands on the coveted Edinburgh Evening News Trophy after beating Liberton’s Robert Jack in the final of the 1976 Lothians Championship at Prestonfield.

Eleven years later, Fisher then joined forces with Mark Murray, Gerry Curran and Alan Purdie to win the Dispatch Trophy with Lothianburn team Whitehill. They beat Edinburgh Thistle in the final before the result was reversed the following year when the same two teams found themselves battling it out again at the Braids for the historic prize.

Fisher also helped Lothianburn win the Edinburgh Inter Club, massively upsetting the odds in the process. “Neil – or Fish as he was known by his friends – was a legend in the true sense of the word up at Lothianburn,” said Murray. “He was a very humble individual and much loved and respected by everyone at the club. He was a gentle giant. He played a lot of rugby as well and gave the ball a mighty thump. He was also extremely talented.

“When we played Edinburgh Thistle in those back-to-back finals in the Dispatch Trophy, it was the same eight guys on both occasions. As for Lothianburn winning the Edinburgh Inter Club, that was a real coup as we were seen as an unfashionable club against the likes of Duddingston and Ratho Park.”

Scott Knowles, who joined Fisher on the Lothians Championship roll of honour in 1980, added: “I played with Neil a number of times in open competitions and matches. He was a true gentleman. I can still picture him with his pipe.

“He was a good golfer and great competitor. I remember having some good matches with him at Lothianburn ... both now sadly gone.”

Fisher’s funeral is at Warriston Crematorium on Friday at 11.30am.