Walking Football community saddened by death of founder member Bob Blaikie

The Walking Football community in Scotland were saddened this week to learn of the passing of Midlothian's Bob Blaikie at the age of 86.

Bob (third from the right) was one of the founder members of the Midlothian Walking Football club and played regularly at the Bayne Memorial Hall in Loanhead well into his eighties.

The popular father of three who had eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren seldom missed a session and loved nothing better than firing the ball into the net.

His performances won him the club's first ever 'Player of the Year' award of which he was rightly proud.

Sadly ill health caused him to give up playing but he continued to attend the weekly sessions where he entertained his former team mates with renditions of Scottish tunes on his mouth organ.

He retained his infectious sense of humour to the end and he was a genuine inspiration to all lucky enough to have spent time in his company.

Midlothian Council Ageing Well Coordinator and Walking Football Scotland Trustee Vivian Wallace said: "Bob was one of the first to start playing the game in 2012 and our oldest player, passing away a month before his 87th birthday.

"He won our very first player of the year award in 2013 and had continued to entertain us each week even when he wasn’t able to actually play anymore.

‘Name that tune’ on the mouth organ always caused a laugh and he enjoyed the banter each week.

"Bob will be greatly missed by everyone at Loanhead."

The thoughts of everyone at Walking Football Scotland are today with Bob's wife Marjorie and  their family at this difficult time.