Littleton Trust

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Ken Crichton

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The Littleton Trust was established by Ken Crichton in 1999 to continue the promotion and support of physical education and development of young people in the Clackmannanshire and Stirling area long after his death.

 

The Trust supports those individuals and organisations that share Ken’s simple view on life that there is no substitute for hard work and determination.

He sought to help those that wanted to help themselves, but just needed a bit of help to get there. His early death stole the quiet pride and private satisfaction of watching mini rugby youngsters and colleagues achieving their potential, whether this was securing their debut at Murrayfield, working their way to board level and contributing to Scottish business or simply achieving more than they ever thought they could.

Support is available to individuals and organisations to assist young people to develop their potential. For more information and the application process, contact Steven Herd.

Ken Crichton

Kenneth Innes Crichton, chartered surveyor and rugby administrator; born May 22,1942, died November 29, 2000.

ONE of Scottish rugby's most forward-thinking administrators, Ken Crichton, died after a long battle against cancer. He was 58.

Crichton was hailed as being the driving force behind the rise to prominence of Stirling County, which came to a climax five years ago when they claimed the premiership crown. He then played a major part in the transition of the top-flight game into professionalism, helping to draft the first wave of SRU players' contracts. County's most-capped player, Kenny Logan - now with London Wasps said: ''From the day I joined the club as a young- ster, Ken was the inspirational figure at Bridgehaugh. In fact, to many of us he was simply Mr Stirling County. ''Ken was respected and admired by everyone who knew him, even by those who might have disagreed with his views on the direction the game was taking.

He lived for rugby.'' Latterly, Crichton, who lived in the Stirlingshire village of Buchlyvie, was forced by circumstances outwith his control to switch his ''official'' allegiance to ''giant-killers'' Strathendrick, and he shared in their jubilation as they took the world of rugby by storm in reaching the semi-finals of last season's BT Cellnet Cup. Former Howe of Fife forward Crichton was manager of the last Glasgow side to win the inter- district championship in season 1989-90, became chairman of the Glasgow District Rugby Union, and went on to manage Scotland touring teams overseas. He also became a special representative member of the SRU committee and held the post of interim executive board chairman after the controversial and bitter departure of Duncan Paterson.

Current SRU committee member Bill Nolan said: ''Ken was a common-sense man who would come up with a solution to virtually any problem. He was devoted to rugby - and to Stirling County in particular. ''It was a personal tragedy when the club opted to move from the Glasgow district into North and Midlands, and he had no option but to affiliate himself to Strathendrick in order to remain eligible to represent Glasgow.'' Born in Alyth, the son of a farmer, Crichton was the fifth son of seven boys, interspersed with three girls. The family moved to Ceres in Fife when he was 10 and he was educated at Bell Baxter High School in Cupar. He joined the Dundee office of the chartered surveyors Graham & Sibbald in 1960, appearing in the office in his Bell Baxter blazer with his rugby colours sewn above the school crest. After three years he joined the Kirkcaldy office and in 1965 he qualified as an associate of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. The following year he moved to the Stirling office and was assumed as a partner in 1968. He developed the Stirling office over the next 30 years and was appointed managing partner of the firm in the early nineties. He was active in Stirling's business and social scene, and was a past president of the town's Rotary Club, a member of the Guildry of Stirling, and a former member of Junior Chamber.

In addition to his rugby interests, he was also a keen supporter and sponsor of Stirling County Cricket Club. One colleague recalled him as a man with a strength of character which many found difficult to comprehend. ''He could be thrawn and awkward but he could also be kind, generous, and understanding, always ready to give sound advice to those who wished to listen.'' Jim Telfer, the SRU's director of rugby, said: ''Ken Crichton was one of the most honest people in rugby that I have met. He was a man of principle who worked tirelessly for the union.''

The Scottish Charity Regulator reference SC028713.