OBITUARY – REVEREND WILLIAM (BILL) DOWNIE

The Reverend William Downie, minister of the EU Congregational Church, Carluke, from 1983 to 1997 and a prominent Rotarian has died aged 76.  He was a stalwart of the local Rotary Club, where he was a member at Council and chaired the Vocational Committee and acted as Youth Development Officer for a number of years.  As unofficial chaplain, he said grace at all 26 of the club’s very successful annual Sportsman’s Dinners and was a big supporter of the High School debating competition.  He also instigated the creation of the local Probus Club and the Rotary Primary Schools’ Quiz.

A keen sportsman, he represented his RAF Regiment unit at boxing and judo, was a keen bowler and later played curling at Hamilton.  Bill was a regular player in league and Ram’s Head Trophy curling matches with Carluke Rotary, formed part of the 2000 Rotary Curling Team that toured Canada and he acted as host during reciprocal visits by the Canadian teams on several occasions.  His membership of Rotary reflected his ministerial charges at Falkirk, Dumbarton, where he was a Past President, and Carluke.

A native of Larkhall, he went to Glasgow University and the Congregational Union College, Edinburgh, where he received his Diploma in Theology and later added a BA degree from the Open University.  In1967, he was inducted to the EU Congregational Church in Falkirk, linked with Avonbridge.  There he was instrumental in creating the first union between major denominations when Grahamston United Church was formed from Church of Scotland, Congregational and Methodist churches.  His eight years there were followed by another eight years at Dumbarton Congregational Church until he returned to his native Lanarkshire at Carluke EU Congregational Church.  He remained there for 14 years when he retired to Larkhall, where he continued to conduct services and take funerals and weddings until shortly before his death on November 18.

In addition to his pastoral work, Bill was widely involved at local and national level in education, health and the military.  He was UK chaplain for the RAF Regiment Association and for the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) Association.  His chaplaincies included Law Hospital, Road Meetings Hospital, High Mill Primary School, Victoria Park School, Carluke High School and Woodhurst Nursing Home.

For 18 years Bill was social questions secretary of the Scottish Congregational Churches, work that took him to Ulster in the quest to bridge the religious divide and bring peace to the province.  Bill strove for better treatment of the elderly as chairman of the Scottish Pensioners’ Forum and Age Concern’s Spiritual Care Committee and he represented Scotland on the UK Samaritans’ Council, helped found Falkirk Citizens Advice Bureau, and had been a vice-chairman of Argyll and Clyde Health Council. 

As an indication of the high regard Bill was held in, some 600 to 700 relatives and friends attended the Service of Thanksgiving.  This was conducted at St Machan’s Church, Larkhall by the Rev. John Arthur, Past Moderator of the United Reformed Church Synod of Scotland, Group Captain Steven Brereton-Martin, CBE, Royal Air Force Regiment Association and Rev. Alastair McKillop, Minister of St Machan’s Parish Church.  In addition, Standard bearers of the Hamilton Branch of the Royal British Legion formed a guard of honour for Bill’s coffin throughout the service. 

Bill was a Rotarian who lived his life well, was well liked and much respected.  His passing has touched many.   Despite such an active life Bill was very much a family man and is survived by his loving wife Sarah (Cissie) and devoted family of four sons and nine grandchildren.