Robert Ledingham

Major Robert Ledingham (27 February 1893 - 27 February 1969) was a Scottish rugby union player. He was the 75th President of the Scottish Rugby Union.[1]

Robert Ledingham
Birth nameRobert Mackay Ledingham
Date of birth(1893-02-27)27 February 1893
Place of birthAberdeen, Scotland
Date of death27 February 1969(1969-02-27) (aged 76)
Place of deathAberdeen, Scotland
UniversityUniversity of Aberdeen
Rugby union career
Position(s) Forward
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
1911-14 Aberdeen GSFP ()
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
1911 North of Scotland District ()
75th President of the Scottish Rugby Union
In office
1961–1962
Preceded byDavid Kerr
Succeeded byAndrew Stewart

Rugby Union career

Amateur career

He played for Aberdeen GSFP.[2]

He played in the North of Scotland cup for Aberdeen GSFP against Panumure on 30 March 1912.[3] Panmure won the match 6 - 3.[4]

Provincial career

The North of Scotland District held a trial match for selection in 1911. Two sides were organised: the Reds and the Blue & Whites. Ledingham was in the Reds side.[5]

He did enough to secure a space in the North XV which played Midlands District on 4 November 1911.[6]

Administrative career

He was elected to the Scottish Rugby Union board in 1927, representing the North of Scotland District.[7]

He became the 75th President of the Scottish Rugby Union. He served the standard one year from 1961 to 1962.[1]

A dinner was held at Aberdeen University to celebrate Ledingham being elected President of the SRU. It was remarked that he had been club secretary for 42 years.[8]

He opened the new floodlights at Kelso in 1961.[9]

Military career

Ledingham joined the 4th Gordons in 1910 as a private.

In 1912 he joined the 1st Highland Brigade R. F. A. When the First World War started he was sent to France and was there for 3 years. He was gassed in March 1918.[10]

He was demobilised in 1919 with the rank of Captain.

He joined the Territorial Army and served with the 75th Brigade (Royal Artillery). He made the rank of Major in 1933 joining the Reserve of Officers.

In the Second World War he joined the 126th Field Regiment of the Royal Artillery but he was invalided from the army in April 1940.

He was appointed to command the Aberdeen Works Battalion of the Aberdeen Home Guard in 1940.[11]

He was made acting Lieutenant Colonel in February 1945.[12]

Law career

Ledingham was an advocate.[13] He graduated from Aberdeen University with a law degree in 1913.[14] He won a prize for his work on International Law at the university in 1914.[15] He was a partner in the firm Edmonds and Ledingham.[11] His father Alexander Ledingham was also an advocate.[16]

Other interests

He came third in Scottish Inter-University Sports in the 120 yards dash in 1913.[17] He was a runner-up in the 1920 Aberdeen University Sports Day in the 120 years dash.[18]

He was a keen tennis player, playing in the Stonehaven Open of 1921.[19] He played for the Osborne tennis club.[20]

He was the Honorary Secretary and Treasurer of the South Aberdeen Unionist Association.[13] However he resigned his position on being elected auditor to the Sheriff Court in 1934.[21]

He was Treasurer of the Aberdeen Philosophical Society.[22]

Death

He died in 1969. He is buried at the Springbank Cemetery in Aberdeen, alongside his father.[23]

References
  1. "Scottish Rugby record" (PDF). s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
  2. "Register | British Newspaper Archive". www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk.
  3. "Register | British Newspaper Archive". www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk.
  4. "Register | British Newspaper Archive". www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk.
  5. "Register | British Newspaper Archive". www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk.
  6. "Register | British Newspaper Archive". www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk.
  7. "Register | British Newspaper Archive". www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk.
  8. "Register | British Newspaper Archive". www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk.
  9. "HUBCAT: Record". www.calmview.eu.
  10. "Register | British Newspaper Archive". www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk.
  11. "Register | British Newspaper Archive". www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk.
  12. "Register | British Newspaper Archive". www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk.
  13. "Register | British Newspaper Archive". www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk.
  14. "Register | British Newspaper Archive". www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk.
  15. "Register | British Newspaper Archive". www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk.
  16. "Register | British Newspaper Archive". www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk.
  17. "Register | British Newspaper Archive". www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk.
  18. "Register | British Newspaper Archive". www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk.
  19. "Register | British Newspaper Archive". www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk.
  20. "Register | British Newspaper Archive". www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk.
  21. "Register | British Newspaper Archive". www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk.
  22. "Register | British Newspaper Archive". www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk.
  23. "Alexander Ledingham (1855-1917) - Find A Grave..." www.findagrave.com.
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