Campbell-lamerton, Michael

OT 14 - North

Date of Death: 17/03/2005

An obituary to Michael appeared in The Times and is reproduced here

Extracted from the Gazette No 42

Michael John Campbell-Lamerton. 1 August 1933-17 March 2005

"When I am older I want to play at Twickenham". This was part of a conversation in Galsworthy after lights out in the Autumn of 1949. By 1962 Michael Lamerton had played for Scotland, and the British Lions in South Africa. Ultimately he was to captain both teams and became the best known, and most talked about, Ottershaw Old Boy of his generation.

Michael was one of the oldest boys to arrive at the school when it opened in September 1948. He was also the tallest. Selection of a rugby team in the first year was difficult. There were only 60 boys. Of vastly differefent ages, and most had
never played before. Fortunately. the No 8 position suited his stature perfectly. Michael's nickname was "M Bird", It derived from a speech impediment in the Bursar, Colonel Hyde, who prefixed most words with "M", and Michael's pigeon keeping hobby.

Michael became a career soldier, but experienced battle conditions early in life when he was hit by a javelin in the inter-house athletics competition. Later in life, when he commanded an Ulster Defence Force battalion in Northern Ireland, his
modesty and sporting record encouraged many to join the ranks. Those that did, responded positively to his strong leadership, and he was soon recognised as an outstanding Commanding Officer. 

But he earned his fame and reputation on the rugby field alongside the rich variety of individuals which the professional game will never see. He played at No 8, or in the second row where, at 6ft 4in and over 17st, he displayed remarkable
athleticism for one of his bulk. Extraordinarily, his rugby career did not blossom until after an horrific helicopter accident. He fell while demonstrating the safety procedures associated with abseiling from a hovering aircraft. Both hands were
badly burned, and an ankle shattered. The first of his 23 Scottish caps came against France in 1961, and he appeared in the next five seasons, twice as captain in 1965. He was picked for the Lions tour of South Africa in 1962, playing in all four internationals at No 8. It came as a surprise to many, and even to Michael, that he was selected as captain for the 1966 Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand. In Australia, both internationals were won. But the NZ leg of the tour was marred by problems with senior management. These left Michael with far greater responsibilities than any modern equivalent would face. He was also out of form, and had the courage to drop himself from the final international.
After his Army career Michael became Bursar of Balliol College, Oxford, later being elected as an emeritus Fellow of the College. Presidency of the University RFC fell naturally to him.

In 2001 he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, an illness he endured with great fortitude.

DSW 10 August 2005.