Fellow orienteers, our dear friend, Neil McLean, passed away at 1:00 this morning in Turriff Cottage Hospital. It seems too short a time since his last event at the start of December, just before his illness was diagnosed.
Neil was simply “Mr. Orienteering”, our sport ran though his veins. Neil had been orienteering longer than most of us, and was probably responsible for many of us developing as orienteers. All of us will have been touched by him at some time – as coach, trainer, mapper, planner, controller, committee and SOA board member, and especially as competitor. Neil had done it all. His knowledge of orienteering runners, maps and events across the world was unequalled. He just loved talking orienteering to everyone, he encouraged us all, he was always at hand with suggestions and advice, and just loved some post event competitive banter.
But when I remember Neil, the phrase that comes to mind is “be deliberate” – in your preparation, navigation, technique and life.
Neil, you will be greatly missed by us all, thanks for all the support and encouragement you gave us over forty plus years.
To Leena, Kirsti, Peter, Ryan, Lewis, Skye, Emily, Jaelyn, Oaklyn, and Archer, thank you for sharing Neil with us, our thoughts are with you.
GRAMPIAN ORIENTEERS 