BILL ANDERSON M.B.E. Icon of Highland Games.

Inducted July 23, 2006, City of Inverness Scotland Highland Games - Masters World Championships

(l. to r.) Bill Anderson competing, Sacramento MWC 2002, judging the caber at
Inverness MWC 2006, and being congradulated by Gerry Reynolds and Provost
William Smith after induction into the Hall of Fame at Inverness MWC.

by David Webster

In northeast Scotland there has been a tradition of Highland gatherings stretching back almost one thousand years. Many centuries later, there in Strathdee, the valley of the river Dee, Highland Games in their modern form were given a great boost and widely popularised by the interest of Queen Victoria, who thoroughly enjoyed the games with their colourful, kilted competitors in traditional sports. It is therefore fitting that this north-east corner of Britain should be the birthplace of Donald Dinnie (1837-1916) and Bill Anderson (born1937) two of the best known and most loved champions of all times.

The latter, will be a popular guest of honour at the World’s Masters Championship of 2006, a token of the respect in which he is held by games participants, organisers and public alike.

Bill Anderson had a long, successful and interesting career that took him around the world, meeting the best athletes of many nations from the July 1956 until 1988 in Australia when he last competed while in his 51st year.

In 1959 he took over the Scottish Championship from the charismatic Jay Scott of Inchmurrin and held the title until 1963 when it was taken over by the Yorkshire blacksmith, Arthur Rowe (1936-2003), a favourite shot put contender at the Olympic Games in Rome , and Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist. Bill and Arthur shared the title in 1964 starting a series of high profile clashes of Titans that created great interest in the heavy events. First one would win and then the other turned the tables. Bill outlasted Arthur and between 1959 and 1973 Bill won the national title eight times to Arthur’s four. The title was shared twice. However the growing popularity of the heavy events attracted great new competitors from other sports. Joining the circuit was massive Geoff Capes, and equally massive (at that time) Commonwealth Games weightlifter Grant Anderson. These two along with Bill Anderson raised standards to new levels.

Bill won every major title including the World Championship against a first class international field in Melbourne 1981. The big Scot also had his share of

World Caber Tossing Championships and he held several other World Records, his hammer throwing being particularly meritorious. His participation at various Caledonian Club of San Francisco Games in Santa Rosa earned him a legion of American fans. Bill’s hammer marks in 1986 at Santa Rosa still stand as masters’ world records in the over 45 age class. They were only surpassed by an age 40-44 masters athlete last year by former world champion Alister Gunn of Scotland.

Master weightlifters will be interested to know that Bill was still winning events while in his forties and his performances at this time exceed recognised Master records. The reason for this is that Scottish handbooks, and many newspapers, only record the distance of winning throws and a number of very fine throws by Bill while in his forties and at fifty have been overlooked because, placing second, or even third, these throws were not listed in the public domain. Many athletes would have protested, but not Bill Anderson. His long-lasting popularity is largely due to his impeccable demeanour. It would be difficult to find a finer sportsman, in the ethical sense. He proved to be a great role model for young people and in his world travels he was a superb ambassador for Scotland .

From first hand experience during decades on the Scottish circuit and in competitions in England, Africa, Sweden, Japan, France, Hawaii, American and Australian tours - indeed in every continent in the world - we have never seen Bill lose his temper, behave badly or be unreliable. He is, and always has been, a quiet, mannerly, gentle man, modest about his sporting fame and happy in retirement with Francis, his helpful wife, his daughter Rosemary and sons Craig, Kenneth and Mark.

Bill Anderson passed his knowledge and skills on to his son Craig, and Bill’s nephew Steve Anderson. Both young men became successful professional Highland Games athletes, Craig winning the World Caber Tossing Championships at Aberdeen Highland Games.

Although no longer competing, Bill is still active in Highland Games and still to be seen judging at major gatherings such as those at Braemar, Aboyne, Crieff and Aberdeen . Bill judged the Masters World Championships in Sacramento , California , in 2002 and again in Inverness , Scotland , in 2006.

Her Majesty the Queen, who over the years has presented many important trophies to Bill at the famous Braemar Gathering, honoured him in 1977 by investing Bill as a ’Member of the British Empire’, a coveted status reserved for those making a significant contribution to the British way of life.

On this auspicious occasion when the World Masters Championships 2006 are held in Scotland for the first time, we are proud to have with us this great athlete whose achievements have earned him a permanent places in the annals of Caledonian sport.