Gerald Woolard

Name: Gerald Woolard
Birth Name: Gerald Paxton Woolard
Hometown: Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
Birthplace: Dennistoun, Scotland, United Kingdom
Died: 2010-02-08 (Age:75)
Supervisor: Record

Obituary

Gerald Paxton Woolard The Herald 15 Feb 2011

Accountant and sports administrator; Born: March 5,1934; Died: February 8, 2010.

GERRY Woolard, who has died aged 75 of leukaemia, was a successful accountant and was well-known in boxing circles thanks to his role as Scottish secretary of the British Boxing Board of Control.

Born in Dennistoun, Glasgow, he was evacuated at the age of five to Alyth, Perthshire, until the end of the war. Coming home at the age of 11 he excelled at Whitehill Secondary School. After school he became an apprentice in an accountancy firm in the city’s Charing Cross. A keen self-starter, he qualified in 1955 and went to work for Duke of Hamilton Estates before moving to Ross’s Dairies, Glasgow, where he eventually became chief accountant. After marrying Esther in 1958, and with his wife’s encouragement and help, Mr Woolard set up an accountancy firm and took over the offices in Charing Cross where his career began.

In the 1970s he became associated with a young accountant, Brian McAllister, who became his partner. The firm, McLeod Paxton Woolard, grew before moving to Paxton House on Woodside Crescent, Charing Cross. His clients became more than business; they often became friends, and he was involved with their families, giving advice, both private and professional.

A man of many parts, Mr Woolard’s life was not confined to accountancy. He had numerous sporting interests including boxing, golf, rugby and football. He was a good amateur boxer, winning the Western District welter-weight championship. When he was appointed secretary of the Scottish area council of the British Boxing Board of Control he was only 22 and for more than 40 years was devoted to the sport. During his time as secretary he officiated on Muhammed Ali’s visit to Glasgow and had oversight of championship matches with such Scottish legends as Peter Keenan, Jim Watt, Ken Buchanan and Walter McGowan. As secretary, worldwide travel to places such as South Africa and America was part of his life. For 30 years, he was also secretary of Balmore Golf Club, north of Glasgow, overseeing increasing membership and many improvements to the course and clubhouse. He was particularly proud to have brokered the purchase of the course itself to assure the future of the club.

On a personal level, he enjoyed membership of Glasgow Golf Club and played many famous courses at home and abroad. He travelled throughout Europe and America, indulging his love of golf and attended the Walker Cup competition regularly, largely through his friendship with the internationalists Andrew and Allan Brodie.

Rugby was another of his sporting enthusiasms, following Scotland wherever they went. He was well-known at GHK Rugby Club, supporting first his sons and later his grandsons. His support of the club was acknowledged with the flag at half-mast and a minute’s silence at the first home game following his untimely death.

Mr Woolard’s love of football was enhanced by his association with his distinguished friend and client Jock Stein, who placed great reliance on him. His enormous range of interests brought himavastnumber of friends in Scotland and beyond, who will long continue to smile at the mention of his name.

Known to his family and friends for his love of his hometown, he was proud of his Scottish roots, Glaswegian heritage and, not least, his old school Whitehill. He will be remembered by his family with great love. He is survived by his wife Esther, sons Paul and Glenn, daughters-in-law Donna and Anne and grandchildren Greg, Grant, Zara, Meghan and Calum.