What a gem. Tributes paid as Marjory Cook passes away

Monday 17th May 2021

Marjory Cook won the Tom Stillie Sword for services to our sport in our 2009 Annual Awards and is pictured with Alan Potts

Edinburgh AC website

Like so many of the long­-term contributors to our sport, Marjory Cook started by taking her twin daughters, Elaine and Susan, to athletics training, in this case with Edinburgh Athletic Club.

Marjory was to prove so much more than an athletics parent, however, and one night when a coach was absent she there and then offered to ‘muck in’ – as she would say – to contribute to the development of the club. What a gem they got.

She duly qualified as a coach, a Level 4 Official for both Track and Field and Endurance Running and served as the club’s Welfare Officer. As a parent, she was hugely proud as her daughters competed at East of Scotland level and in the UK League with EAC.

For over 40 years, Marjory could be seen at track and field and cross country meetings throughout Scotland. No matter how big or small the task, Marjory always undertook it with enthusiasm.

At National level she became a selector and team manager and in 1985 she took a Scotland team to the European cross country champs. In 1994, she officiated at the first European Cross Country Championship In Alnwick.

Marjory also represented the Club on National Committees and from 1988-9 to 1991-2 was President of the Scottish Women’s Cross Country Union.

With the formation of the Scottish Athletic Federation in 1992, Marjory was elected to the Road Running and Cross Country Commission and served on it continuously.

Two days before her death (late last week) she contributed to a Zoom meeting of the East District League and East District Cross Country Committee.

As Convener she guided the Commission from 2002-3 to 2007-8 during the exciting times when the European Cross Country (2003) and World Cross Country (2008) Championships were held in Edinburgh. Of course, she was on the Local Organising Committee and officiated at the events.

In 2009 Marjory’s contribution to our sport was recognised with the award of the Tom Stillie Sword and in 2010 she was made an Honorary Life Member of Scottish Athletics. A mostly shy, modest and retiring person she was quietly delighted to have been recognised in this way.

Honorary Life Members lists

Tom Stillie Award winners

At the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Marjory operated the Marathon call rooms with Moira Reid. When finished, they moved to the stadium where they controlled the use of the warm-up track.

Everyone who knew Marjory will have their own memories of this gentle, unflappable and kind woman.

She treated all her contributions in athletics with equal importance from International events through preparing the results data for the East League to club events.

Nothing was too much for her and she treated it all as deserving of careful attention.

We will miss her dearly and send our condolences to all family and many friends across the sport.

With thanks to Ron Morrison, Sandra Hardacre and Alex Jackson.

Officials pay their respects for Marjory Cook at the 4J Studios Together Apart event at Saughton on Saturday (photo via Mike Taylor)

 

Tags: Honorary Life Membership, Marjory Cook, Tom Stillie Sword

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