TWO Gala rugby stalwarts have been elected Life Members of the club.

The appointments of Jim Gilchrist and John Gray were made at the annual general meeting this month.

Jim played regularly for some time for Gala A and, thereafter, made a major contribution to the club’s affairs, raising considerable sums of money through his efforts. He joined the management committee in 1982-3 and was elected vice-president in seasons 1993-4 and 1994-195.

He became President in 1995-6 and 1996-7, and continued to serve on the management committee. He represented the club on many occasions and on numerous external committees.

Jim’s major contribution to the club has been the organisation of over 100 Friday lunches, where large gatherings of members and friends enjoyed a range of distinguished speakers. The regular gatherings are highly regarded and their success is greatly envied by many other clubs.

For many years, Jim has also organised the invaluable fundraising 200 Club, again a major contribution to the club’s finances.  John Gray was Captain of Gala for three seasons - 1965-1666, 1966-1667, and 1969-1970. He captained Gala when they won the Border League Championship for the first time in the post-war years in 1966-1967.

He played 13 seasons for the club, appearing 300 times, and scoring 19 tries. He appeared for the South, and in many other representative games.

Johnny led the Gala seven to victories on four consecutive Saturdays in the autumn of 1964, winning at Ardrossan, Earlston, Kelso and Selkirk. He has a winner’s medal from Melrose in 1964 and a runners-up medal in 1969.

He was appointed Director of Rugby in Galashiels in 1995-1996 and has had a successful coaching record at various levels of the game, as well as contributing to the club through a long record of committee work.

Away from rugby, he is, among other things, involved with Gala in Bloom and a distinguished speaker on the circuit.