Peeblesshire News | Sport | Games challenge

Saturday, 11th October, 2008

Published: Friday, 15th February, 2008 11:00

Games challenge

By Atholl Innes

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Sir Robert Smith: big challenge ahead.

SIR Robert Smith’s successful business life did not peak when he was ‘knighted’ in 1999.

But it took on two new challenges in the space of 24 hours last week in extraordinary day, which will bring out the best qualities in the Peebles tycoon.

On Thursday, Sir Robert was ‘honoured’ as First Minister Alex Salmond charged him to bring the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games in ‘on budget and on time.’

And before he had time to draw breath, he had driven down the 23 miles down from Edinburgh to be inducted as the latest member of the Guildry Corporation of Peebles at its annual supper in Peebles Hotel Hydro.

Sir Robert was joining an elite group of men on a night when Peebles businessmen come together to remember tradition, listen to speeches, and enjoy a glass of wine - or two.

Next day, Sir Robert, a lifelong Partick Thistle supporter, would be exercising his mind to making the Games in his native city (he hails from Maryhill) the best so far – and unlike the Scottish Parliament, not over budget.

Sir Robert comes with a pedigree that not only reads, but is also a Who’s Who of business. He is currently chairman of the Weir Group and also Scottish and Southern Energy.

He is chairman of the Smith Group, which advises the Scottish Government on education, and is Chancellor of the University of the West of Scotland.

And he is well known as a major fund-raiser for the Museum of Scotland and the Kelvingrove Museum in Galashiels.

But his latest assignment is expected to be his biggest challenge to date for the 63-year-old – and one which he is relishing with the quiet gusto of a man at ease in the business world.

“This is a massive challenge. My over-riding priority is to deliver a great Games – on time and on budget,” he said.

“It will be the biggest challenge of my life. The Games are big and a lot can go wrong. But is my task to make it happen. This is very big and I absolutely do not want to get it wrong.

Sir Robert is delighted that major parts of the structures are in place – Celtic Park, where the opening ceremony is to be held; Ibrox Park (for the rugby sevens); Hampden, where the surface will be raised a metre-and-a-half – and then lowered again.

As well as the Games Village, which will revert to housing when all the athletes have gone home.

Yet much work remains to be done ahead of 2014 and Sir Robert is up to the challenge. “We have to pass on a legacy and we will be judged on how we leave the Commonwealth Games name,” he said.

“This is a big opportunity to do something for Glasgow and for Scottish youth” – and he expects a spin-off for the Borders.

Sir Robert moved to Peebles 12 years ago. “We had looked at other parts of Scotland, but we had friends in Peebles and liked the Borders,” he said.

That was a priority he had never regretted – now his next is to make sure that he accelerates the 2014 Games in the fast lane of Scottish sport.

“This will be my most complicated challenge so far,” he agreed.

But his induction as a member of the Guildry Corporation ensured that he was in good hands – and that for a few hours he could focus outwith the hurly-burly of making sure that he delivers Scotland’s biggest sporting event in its history.

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