Commonwealth Games Scotland is saddened to hear of the death of CGS Life Member George Hunter OBE at the age of 97 on 20 December 2023.   George was a key leadership figure in Scottish sport in both his own sport of rowing and in the wider Commonwealth Games movement.  George served as a delegate from rowing on the Council  and then as an office bearer on the CGS Board for over 37 years, joining in 1962. He served five four year terms as Treasurer raising and managing funds to send teams to the Games, before becoming CGS Hon Secretary for six further consecutive terms between 1979 and 1999, running the business of the Association from his home, as was required in the time before staff were employed.

During that period he acted as Assistant Team Manager for Scottish Games teams from 1966 in Jamaica through to 1990 in New Zealand. George was also instrumental in helping bring and deliver the Games to Edinburgh in 1970 and 1986, the latter Games seeing rowing return to the Games programme as an optional sport . 

Reflecting on his immense contribution, CGS CEO Jon Doig OBE said “George was one of the unsung heroes of Scottish sport at a time when it was amateur and totally reliant on volunteers. He gave so much of his personal time to both rowing and the Games for the benefit of others. I had the pleasure of meeting with him as a Life Member and remember fondly his passion for the Games,  his quick wit and trademark bowler hat.”