Dear Friends,

It is with great sadness that I inform you of the sudden death of Peter Robertson this morning.  Peter was out playing walking football this morning, which he loved, when he suffered a fatal heart attack.  

Helen Turner shared the news with me and I know that you will all hold Peter’s wife Alison, sons Simon and Jonathan and wider family in your thoughts and prayers at this time.  

At our recent YMCA Scotland Awards Dinner, Peter was awarded the Sir George Williams Medal.  This is the highest award available within the YMCA in Scotland and is for distinguished and outstanding service to the YMCA in Scotland.  Below is an extract from his nomination, which gives you an insight into the significant contribution that Peter made over many years.  

‘Peter started his Scottish YMCA involvement when he became General Secretary of Dumfries YMCA in the 1970s having trained at the YMCA College in London and worked at Ambleside YMCA and Henley YMCA and having been a member of Carlisle YMCA as a teenager.  After some years Peter moved to work for a local funder, The Holywood Trust, and he became a YMCA volunteer.  He was so committed to the YMCA Movement that there was no suggestion of not continuing to be involved.  He eventually became Chairman of Dumfries YMCA and was also supported the development of YMCAs in Stranraer and Gatehouse of Fleet, regularly travelling across the region to attend meetings and negotiate with officials on behalf of the YMCA.  
Peter also became involved in things nationally, on the National Executive and various committees.  He chaired the Personnel Committee in the late 1980s and early 1990s.  He was Vice Chair of YMCA Scotland from 1992 to 2004 and Chairman from 2004 to 2008.  
There is a saying ‘if you cut them in half they would read…’ For Peter the would definitely be YMCA.  '

His loss will be great to the whole YMCA family, felt most by his family and all those at Dumfries YMCA. 

I will send more details about funeral arrangements when I receive them.  If anyone would like to write to Ali and the family I can provide details by separate email. 

In deep sadness

Kerry Reilly
National Secretary 
YMCA Scotland