Many Strathmore Cricket Club members, especially those of an older persuasion, will be saddened to hear of the relatively sudden passing of former club treasurer David Potter on Sunday.
David, a Forfarian born and bred, entered the world of banking upon leaving Forfar Academy with the TSB eventually becoming manager of his hometown branch.
A keen follower of both cricket and football from a young age, David who made the occasional appearance for the Strathie second eleven and also the Trustee Savings Bank side (who played midweek friendly fixtures back in the day) became actively involved with Strathmore assuming the treasurer’s role in 1974, an important time in the club’s illustrious history as the new clubhouse was at the construction stage replacing it’s fire ravaged predecessor.
David was to continue in that post for eight years, at the same time taking up the important role of club first team umpire.
He was also a regular on the early Strathmore tours to various parts of Scotland, followed by the never to be forgotten trips to Cheshire where legendary moments unfolded over time! No further detail however for as they say ‘what happens on tour stays on tour.’
Over a ten year period in the Strathmore Union David had become a highly respected umpire but with Strathmore’s elevation to county status in 1984, he joined the league’s umpiring panel and his career with the white coat to say the least moved on at pace.
He eventually stood as one of officials in the Scottish Cup Final but the pinnacle of his umpiring career came in July, 1997 when, along with his colleague Joe Breslin, he was in the ‘middle’ as they say for the visit of the power packed Australian touring side of that year that faced Scotland at Grange in front of a sell out 5,000 crowd.
He called time on his umpiring career a year later but still kept up a very keen interest in Scottish cricket working for a period within the Cricket Scotland administrative structure and in fact acted as the first secretary of newly formed at the time National Cricket League.
Back to his business life with the TSB and promotion saw him leave Forfar in the mid eighties, firstly to Elgin, then Aberdeen finally taking up residence in Dunfermline prior to early retiral.
He never however forgot his roots and continued to take a keen interest in Strathmore’s fortunes however good or bad, as well as the progress or otherwise of the ‘Loons’ whom he also served as Director and Club Treasurer for a three year spell in the early/mid eighties, in fact joining the board at Station Park on the same night in 1983 as his good friend David McGregor.
In more recent times, photography became a major hobby and David was a familiar figure, camera and stand in hand at cricket grounds throughout Scotland, readily supplying images for clubs of all sizes for their social media content.
His love of all things Forfar like his namesake and great friend the late David W. Potter also extended latterly to the fortunes of the upwardly bound Strathmore Rugby Club where he was a much appreciated club photographer for the past few years, capturing some wonderful pictures of their recent National League 4 title win, clinched by coincidence in David’s ‘back yard’ at McKane Park in Dunfermline.
He will indeed be sadly missed by many especially in the cricket and rugby world throughout Scotland but especially by Margaret his wife of many a year, son Andrew and other close family members to whom the sympathy of all at Lochside Park are extended at this time.
Rest in peace.