Inverness £1800 gift in memory of much-missed man to boost Highland homeless food scheme and kirk
A gift in memory of a football player and manager, local hospital consultant and sports reporter will be shared with Inverness Foodstuff and Ness Bank Church this weekend.
Malcolm Laing was an ear, nose and throat consultant at Raigmore Hospital from 1989 until his untimely death two years ago.
During that time he shared his passion for football as player manager of the hospital football team in a series of tours and a long-standing rivalry with the Inverness GPs.
Malcolm was good at his job, but his wife Susan remembers: “Football was where the fun was! Matches were highly competitive, and the build up almost as intense as the game!”.
After each game, Malcolm wrote match reports in his own eagerly-awaited and hilarious style for a regular “Laing on Sport” column in the hospital’s in-house magazine.
His death in March 2023 at the age of just 67 ended his plans to compile his articles into an illustrated booklet – until friends Jerry O’Rourke and Ronald MacVicar stepped in to complete what Malcolm had begun.
Malcolm’s wife Susan then published “Laing’s Highland Football Legacy” and sold it to grateful colleagues, family and friends. The proceeds so far exceed £1800.
Malcolm was a much loved Elder in Ness Bank Church of Scotland and an ardent supporter of Inverness Foodstuff, which helps to feed those in need from its base in the church building. The fruits of his labours will now be divided between this charity and the church’s future development plans – as well as being enjoyed by his many fans.
