Commonwealth Games Scotland (CGS) is saddened to note the passing of our former Vice Chair, Dr Fiona McEwan after a short illness.
A mentor and friend to many Team Scotland athletes , staff and Board members, Fiona was Team Scotland Badminton Team Manager in the 1994 Victoria and again at the 1998 Kuala Lumpur Games where Scotland won a bronze medal in the Badminton Women’s Doubles.
At the 2000 Millennium Youth Commonwealth Games, Fiona took on the role of overall Village Manager at Heriot Watt University, helping all the young athletes from around the Commonwealth to feel at home, ensuring these inaugural Games were a great success which have endured to this day.
In 2002 she took on the role of Team Scotland Assistant General Team Manager with responsibility for Village operations at the Manchester Commonwealth Games. At these Games, daughter Kirsteen won a bronze medal in the Badminton Team event alongside her teammates, which included her other daughter Deirdre’s future husband, Craig Robertson.
Initially a Badminton Scotland delegate to the Council of Commonwealth Games Scotland, Fiona was first elected as a Board director in 2001 then subsequently served two terms as CGS Vice Chair standing down in 2015. Fiona brought with her an analytical mind and a strong commitment to the needs of the athletes, reflecting her position. Outwith sport, Fiona had a successful career as a scientist and lecturer.
During her time with CGS, Fiona was a delegate to the Commonwealth Games Federation General Assembly and European Commonwealth Games Association meetings, as well as a trustee of the Scottish Commonwealth Games Youth Trust. In 2010 and 2014 Fiona chaired the CGS Team Scotland Games selection panel, implementing many of the procedures to ensure selection of our most successful Games team ever. In her position as a CGS Board member Fiona took an active role throughout the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games bidding and delivery process.
A leading national sporting administrator with Badminton Scotland becoming their first female president from 1999-2001. Fiona also had a deep interest in philately and was an enthusiastic photographer, a passion which she shared with husband Duncan, who was a strong supporter of Fiona in all her Games and other activities.
Fiona will be sadly missed by all her friends at CGS and beyond. Duncan’s great loss, along with that of daughters Kirsteen and Deirdre, son-in-laws Mark and Craig, and her grandchildren, Ewan, Ruaridh, and Isla is shared by us all. All of Scottish sport owes Fiona and her family a huge debt of gratitude for her commitment and passion for sport in Scotland.
The McEwan family have asked us to advise that Fiona’s funeral will be held on Thursday 6th April, 11.00am in Bishopton Parish Church, then 12 noon at Woodside Crematorium, Paisley.