Glasgow University Sports Association - GUSA

The GUSA Council would like to extend its utmost thanks and appreciation to Professor Frank Coton.

Frank’s current role in the university is Senior Vice Principal and Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic). He is also the Honorary President of GUSA, a role which he has held since 2008. Last year, Frank announced that he would be retiring at the end of this month, meaning that he will also be stepping away from the role of GUSA Honorary President. 

Over the years, Frank has worked alongside many GUSA Councils and Presidents. He has an exceptional ability to strike the perfect balance in his involvement with Council work – making sure members have the freedom to lead their own areas and projects, whilst offering thoughtful guidance and support where required.

GUSA has been incredibly fortunate to have had Frank firmly in its corner for the past 18 years. An avid supporter of university sport, and a calming, measured presence in any room he enters, Frank will be greatly missed. We were pleased to be able to award Frank the ‘Talking Stick’ at this year’s GUSA Ball for outstanding contribution towards the association (pictured above), and we wish Frank nothing but the very best in his retirement.

It is with immense sadness that we have learned of the recent passing of Dr Des Gilmore.

Des was a longstanding and committed member of both the GUSA Council as Court Representative and later Honorary Vice President, and of Hares and Hounds as President. He was involved in both since 1988, and was just as dedicated recently as he was 37 years ago.

Des was an incredibly passionate supporter of sport at the University of Glasgow, reflected not least in his regular attendance at weekly Hares and Hounds training sessions, as well as races and club events. Additionally, he attended every GUSA Senior Council meeting, GUSA Ball, and 1881 alumni dinner, where he especially enjoyed hearing about everything that students from years-gone-by had been up to. Outside of GUSA, Des worked within the College of Medicine, Veterinary and Life Sciences, and although retiring in 2006, he continued to work primarily as a Facilitator in the college.

Both GUSA and Hares and Hounds have never had a more passionate advocate and supporter than Des, and it is overwhelmingly sad that we have lost such a great colleague and friend.

Des was laid to rest in Kilkenny this morning, and there will be plans for a memorial service at the university, to be announced in due course. If you have any memories you wish to share of Des, please reach out to Karl on [email protected], or Finn on [email protected].

Our thoughts are with Des’s family at this sad time.