Our ongoing research into the history of Greyfriars cemetery has uncovered a number of fascinating characters buried in the kirkyard, and it's interesting to note that not all of these residents date back to the 17th or 18th centuries. One such later arrival is Leslie Balfour-Melville, who was buried in the graveyard in 1937. In some sporting circles, Balfour-Melville has been described as Scotland's greatest ever sportsman.
The 5th February 2022 marks the 150th anniversary of the rugby match between England and Scotland where Leslie Balfour-Melville made his debut for Scotland. Balfour-Melville, who played at full-back that day, was only 17 years of age, and this turned out to be his only international rugby cap for Scotland. England won, and Balfour-Melville missed a drop goal (but we don't talk about that).
Now, you might think this doesn't sound like a particularly ground-breaking sporting achievement until you hear about some of his other exploits. Not only did he play rugby union for Scotland, he competed at a high level in other sports including cricket, golf and tennis.
Cricket
In 1882, Balfour-Melville captained Scotland's cricket team to victory over Australia. This was the Australia side who, later that summer, headed to London and managed to beat England's cricket team for the first time, thus creating the Ashes. That famous annual fixture, of course, originated in a satirical "obituary" published in the Sporting Times stating English cricket had died, the body was to be cremated, and the ashes taken to Australia.
Balfour-Melville was later recalled to the Scotland cricket team in 1909, at the age of 55! He clearly hadn't lost his skills in this match, as he made 91 runs before being stumped.
Golf
Leslie Balfour-Melville won the British Amateur Golf Championship in 1895, defeating John Ball Jnr in a play-off at the 19th hole. (John Ball Jnr went on to win 8 amateur championships in his career.) In the actual 1888 Open Championship, Balfour-Melville finished 5th. He was a prolific medal-winner, and became captain of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club in 1906.
Tennis
In 1879, Balfour-Melville won the Scottish Lawn Tennis Championship and was runner-up in 1880.
If all that wasn't enough, he became the 21st President of the Scottish Rugby Union (1893-94) and President of the Scottish Cricket Union (1909). He was also a skater, curler, long-jumper and billiards player.
In 2002 Balfour-Melville was one of the 50 inaugural inductees into the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame.
So as Scotland take the field to face the "Auld Enemy" at Murrayfield on the 5th February 2022, cast your mind back to 1872 and picture the 17-year-old Leslie Balfour-Melville taking the field for his first and only international rugby match for Scotland, unaware of the remarkable sporting achievements ahead of him; and if you're passing Greyfriars cemetery, drop in and pay your respects.
To find out much much more, join us on our Greyfriars Cemetery Tour.