Obituary: Clydesdale harrier Jim Shields

Jul 10 2009 by Andy Galloway, Lennox Herald (main ed)

JIM Shields, who died on Saturday June 27, joined Clydesdale Harriers in the mid 1930s and went on to become a key figure in the club, in the sports community in Clydebank and in Scottish Athletics generally.

He was a good club runner turning out when required and an ever present at inter-club fixtures in the 1930's but it was as an official and administrator in the sport that he was best known.

He worked in Singer's Sewing Machine Factory in Clydebank and was one of their top Time and Motion men at the time.

As such he was dispatched to India for the opening of their factory there in 1962 and did not return until 1968.

This was unfortunate because he was Vice President of the Scottish Amateur Athletics Association in 1962 and was next in line to be President but unfortunately missed out because he had been sent abroad.

Regardless of that he went on to be secretary of Clydesdale Harriers for two spells totalling 12 years and also spent nine years as Treasurer.

He was on the Committee for a total of over 40 years and was well known in the Burgh for his work in the organising of the Singer's Sports which always had an international star as chieftain – for example, Dorothy Lamour the Hollywood film star filled the role one year and in another June Foulds, Olympic sprinter was chieftain.

He also played a part in the organisation of the Scottish Schools Championships, the Schools International Championships and the Scottish Veteran Harriers Championships when they were held in Clydebank, but particularly in the World Cross Country Championships when they were held on Dalmuir Park and Golf Course in 1969.

He also worked as a timekeeper at championship races, at open graded meetings and at highland games meetings and at the other end of the scale helped local Scouts and Boys Brigade organisations with their sports and badge meetings.

Jim was a quite remarkable figure – not only for his talents or for his loyalty or for what he did for the people of Clydebank but also for his modesty.

Jim never pushed himself forward or looked for thanks; he just did his job and did it superbly well.

Brian McAusland