Events
The Voice of Rugby Dinner 2026
The Ballad o’ the Voice o’ Rugby Supper
The Voice of Rugby Dinner
At Prestonfield House as the sun slipped low,
Golden light on tartan and laughter’s glow,
The Pickled Piper struck the tune just right,
And piped us proudly into the night.
Fifteen years of the Foundation strong,
A celebration filled with story and song.
Rory Lawson, Bill’s grandson, our host with flair,
Guided the evening with warmth and care.
Rory Lawson sharing a dram with The Pickled Piper
Huw Jones, Finn Russell and auctioneer Alex Fleming
Linda Lawson shared the journey and heart,
Of the ways the Foundation plays its part.
Gregor Lawson then offered grace so kind,
A moment of thanks for body and mind.
Then glasses were raised and plates arrived,
With food and wine that truly thrived.
Surprise! Finn and Huw appeared with grins,
To celebrate Scotland’s run of wins.
Alan Lawson, Sheena and Peter Gallagher, Linda Lawson
Signed jerseys sparked a bidding delight,
Treasured keepsakes of rugby’s might.
Kelly and Benjamin had the room in stitches,
Trading stories from both on and off rugby pitches.
Peter Gallagher was honored that night,
Volunteer of the Year, a shining light.
Gemma Fay shared stories bright and true
Of Bill’s Bursaries helping young players through.
The entertaining Jess Robinson
Jess Robinson dazzled with voices galore,
“Singo!” rang out across the floor.
“Is it Britney?” we wondered with glee,
While Bohemian Rhapsody set napkins free.
Then Alex Fleming, hilarious and bold,
Led a live auction worth its weight in gold.
The Maclean Brothers sailed stories wild and wide,
Of oceans crossed and relentless tide.
The Maclean Brothers sharing tales of their adventures
Bleeker led the room in song,
Voices together, loud and strong.
As the night drew to its joyful end,
We danced on the floor with family and friends.
For rugby, for stories, for kindness and cheer,
For Bill’s great legacy year after year.
A night to remember, hearts full and bright,
The Voice of Rugby Dinner - what a night!
Photos: Molly Fisher
The Calcutta Cup Long Lunch
What a day to remember at the CALCUTTA CUP LONG LUNCH 2026!
Last Friday, we gathered in the stunning surroundings of Prestonfield House for an unforgettable afternoon - all in support of The Bill McLaren Foundation and Boroughmuir Rugby.
From the very first welcome to the final round of applause, the energy in the room was something special.
We were treated to incredible stories and plenty of laughter thanks to our fantastic guest speakers, Lawrence Dallaglio and Jim Hamilton - their yarns had the whole room hanging on every word. Plus a drop in from Scotland's Vice-Captain Finn Russell certainly made a stir - sharing some behind-the-scenes intel!
The afternoon was expertly guided by our brilliant MC Rory Lawson, who kept everything flowing seamlessly.
And then there was the music… 🎶 Bleeker had the crowd in full voice - sing-alongs, napkin swinging, and that unmistakable Long Lunch atmosphere that makes these events so unique.
The girls from the Boroughmuir Banshees brought fantastic energy and helped carry the afternoon in style.
A huge thank you to our sponsors - Cold Town Beer, Scottish Building Society, Conduit Finance and MPact - whose support made the entire event possible. Your backing truly makes a difference.
The generosity of our guests was nothing short of extraordinary. The live and silent auctions were packed with excitement and competitive bidding - led by the hilarious Alex Fleming. The funds raised will have a meaningful impact for both charities, and that’s what it’s all about.
To everyone who attended, supported, sponsored, organised, sang, bid, and cheered - thank you. Events like this remind us just how powerful the rugby community can be when it comes together.
Here’s to great company, great causes, and a Long Lunch that will be talked about for years to come.
Photography credit: Pretty Bright
The Legendary Long Lunch 2025
Two Fridays ago we teamed up with Edinburgh Accies for a truly Legendary Long Lunch at Prestonfield House — and what a day it was!
We were joined by an all-star lineup including Greig Laidlaw, Rachel Malcolm, Felipe Contepomi and Finn Russell, plus musical entertainment from the fabulous Jess Robinson. The day was expertly steered by our resident MC Rory Lawson. The stories, the laughs, the sing-alongs...unforgettable! 🇦🇷🏴
Most importantly, thanks to the incredible generosity in the room, and our fantastic auctioneer Alex Fleming, we raised an amazing £80,000 for The Foundation and Accies.
Huge thanks to everyone who came along and made it a day to remember!
Special thanks to our sponsors - Panacea Brokers, Melville Independent, Pickering’s Gin, Murray & Currie Property and Scottish Building Society.
Head to our website to see more about the afternoon.
The Voice of Rugby Dinner 2025
Our annual Voice of Rugby Dinner will be supported again by our much-valued sponsors, Carbon Financial Partners and The Craneware Group. To mark the Scotland v Wales Six Nations clash, we have a fantastic line-up of entertainment and special guests, skilfully guided by our resident MC Rory Lawson. Our speakers will be two Welsh heroes, Alun Wyn Jones and Shane Williams, and entertainment will be provided by comedian, singer and impressionist Jess Robinson.
The Italian Job IV 2025
All Blacks legend Andrew Mehrtens will provide us with some rugby yarns and insight, led by Bill's grandson, former Scotland captain and our MC, Rory Lawson. There will be some fantastic musical entertainment to sing along to and get those napkins waving, whilst Prestonfield House will deliver a beautiful setting and delicious food and drink to wet your whistle!
The Legendary Long Lunch 2024
SOLD OUT!!
The Legendary Long Lunch with Edinburgh Accies is back for 2024 - The Wallabies' George Gregan and Springbok Bryan Habana will be entertaining us at the stunning Prestonfield House, Edinburgh.
The Legendary Long Lunch
All Blacks legend Andrew Mehrtens, actor (and die-hard rugby fan) Jimmy Nesbitt and the beautiful voice of Vicki Robertson – all compered by our fantastic MC and former Scotland captain, Rory Lawson. In addition, we’re working hard behind the scenes to entice a couple of ‘surprise VIP guests’ along too!
The Voice of Rugby Annual Flagship Dinner
Our 12th Annual dinner this year was a roaring success, supported again by our much-valued sponsors, Carbon Financial Partners and The Craneware Group. To mark what would have been Bill McLaren’s 100th year, we had a wonderful line-up of entertainment and special guests, skilfully guided by our resident MC Rory Lawson. Our speakers were two exceptional talents, Andrew Cotter the Broadcaster (and dog whisperer), and Jonathan Davis, a Rugby Great – both with strong connections to Bill. Rythmic gymnast Louise Christie and golfer Tara McTaggart shared with everyone how much the support of the Bill McLaren Foundation means to them, whilst Gethin Jones and Jamie Roberts kept us entertained with not only their thoughts on the rugby, but they even sang us a song or two!