Lt. Col. Robert Meldrum was a Scottish

rugby union Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In its m ...

player. He became the 69th

President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) *President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ful ...

of the

Scottish Rugby Union The Scottish Rugby Union (SRU; gd, Aonadh Rugbaidh na h-Alba) is the governing body of rugby union in Scotland. Styled as Scottish Rugby, it is the second oldest Rugby Union, having been founded in 1873. The SRU oversees the national league s ...

Rugby Union career

Amateur career

Meldrum played for

Royal HSFP Royal High School Former Pupils was a former Edinburgh rugby union club; but the club was re-formed as Barnton RFC and is now known as Royal High RFC. Royal HSFP was a founder member of the Scottish Rugby Union, the second oldest national gove ...

. While a dental student he turned out for a Dental Students XV. A broken ankle put paid to his season in 1911-12.

Provincial career

Meldrum did not get a full cap for Edinburgh District. He did come close in 1911. Glasgow and Edinburgh each organised 'A' and 'B' sides to try and get their selection right for the famous inter-city match. The Edinburgh sides were not deemed 'A' and 'B' but instead Stripes and Plain colours. Meldrum was found in the 'Plain colours' side. The trial matches were held on 22 November 1911 at

Hamilton Crescent Hamilton Crescent is a cricket ground in the Partick area of Glasgow, Scotland, which is the home of the West of Scotland Cricket Club. Hamilton Crescent hosted the first international football match, between Scotland and England, played on 30 ...

. Meldrum was not included in the line-up for the 1911 inter-city match. Either he failed to impress at the trial or the broken ankle injury he sustained that season ruled him out of selection.

Administrative career

From 1929 to 1936 he was President of

. He was on the committee of the

from 1939. He became the 69th President of the Scottish Rugby Union. He served one year from 1955 to 1956.

Military career

In the First World War, Meldrum started in the Royal Army Medical Corps as a Captain. He later transferred to the

Honourable Artillery Company The Honourable Artillery Company (HAC) is a reserve regiment in the British Army. Incorporated by royal charter in 1537 by King Henry VIII, it is the oldest regiment in the British Army and is considered the second-oldest military unit in the w ...

where he became a Lieutanent Colonel.

Dentistry career

Meldrum became a dentist. He graduated with a LDS and a Doctorate.

Family

He was the son of George Alexander Meldrum and Jessie Brown Marr. His daughter Aileen married the Honorable Robert Montieth of Tullibole Castle.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Meldrum, Robert 1890s births Scottish rugby union players Rugby union players from Edinburgh Presidents of the Scottish Rugby Union Royal HSFP players Year of death missing Rugby union forwards