It is with great sadness that basketballscotland acknowledge the passing of Davie Gilmour, a highly influential and much-loved member of the Wheelchair Basketball community in Scotland and across the UK.
Davie originally began his basketball career playing with the Inverclyde Colts Wheelchair Basketball Club before moving to the West of Scotland. When the Lothian Phoenix was formed in 2006 Davie found his home.
He was a key squad member and took the role of Captain. As a 1.0 player Davie could set the best technical picks against the biggest, strongest players in the league and come out winning. He was part of numerous playoff teams and of every Phoenix team that was promoted through the leagues to division one.
When the Phoenix formed their second team in 2008/9 Davie stepped up and took the role of Coach with his best friend Rab O’Rorke. He was not only a key person on court but helped drive the committee in both the secretary and chair positions for a number of years. He also supported the development of Scottish junior basketball as a coach and manager.
One of his personal favourite games to play in was the hotly contested Scottish Cup between the Phoenix and the West of Scotland, as they were known at the time.
In honour of Davie, the Lothian Phoenix retired his playing number knowing that no one else could ever get away with the good-natured cheek he gave to opposition and referees alike.
Davie is such a huge loss to the basketball community and will always be Phoenix #13.
He is survived by his wife Laura and three children Arianna, Lochlann and Shayla. Our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time.
