Aberdeen-born June Lockhart, nee Smollett, a former Scotland hockey international and renowned golfer, has died aged 72.
While studying at Aberdeen she captained both the Scottish and the British universities hockey sides, played for Scotland under 23s and captained the North District side.
June’s career in teaching took her to the west coast where she played for Hillhead Hockey Club and later forged a successfully amateur golfing career.
She was also a noted charity fundraiser and after-dinner speaker.
Childhood
June was born in Aberdeen in June 1949, the only child of Constance and Robert Smollett.
Her mother encouraged her to work hard and take up a musical instrument while her father instilled in her a devotion to Aberdeen FC.
At Aberdeen Academy, she played in most girls’ sports teams and was head girl in 1967.
She began her PE teaching career at the then Camphill High School in Paisley in 1972, retired from full-time teaching in 2002 but continued on a part-time basis.
Marriage
In 1975, June met Iain Lockhart and they married at Aberdeen University in 1977.
They had two children, Gordon and Sheona, and set up home in the west end of Glasgow.
Tragedy struck the family in 2011 when Sheona, who had been fighting an illness for many years, died at the age of 24.
In later years, June turned her attention from hockey to golf, became ladies captain at Clydebank and District then moved to Gleddoch Golf Club where she was twice ladies captain, and club champion in 2012.
After Sheona’s death, June joined Douglas Park Golf Club and became a West of Scotland Greenlees Trophy team member.
She won numerous medals at the club and was runner-up in the ladies’ senior championship in 2020.
Success
In her 50s, June became a member of the West Vets, an association of the Scottish Veterans Ladies’ Golf Association, which she captained for two very successful years.
In 2017, in her second year of West Vets captaincy, she became Renfrewshire Ladies’ County captain and took the team to the Scottish County finals, narrowly missing out on the title to Aberdeenshire in 2018.
Opposing captain, Ann Smart, an honorary member at Banchory, said: “I first met June at the county finals in 2018 as a fellow captain.
“We became really good friends. She was an absolute gem of a lady who never complained once.”
Fellow Renfrewshire golfer and golf writer Carol Fell said: “Her generosity was huge as was Iain’s and at any fundraising events for the county this was clearly seen by many donations of rounds of golf on Gleddoch, Douglas Park and Glasgow Gailes.
“Her after dinner speaking skills and raising of money were fantastic.”
Choral
For many years, June sang alto with the Glasgow Singers Company with whom she performed at the SECC, and with the choir at Douglas Park Golf Club.
Morag Clapperton of Banchory, who taught June PE at school said: “She was one of the best pupils I ever taught and one of the best hockey players I ever played.
“But most of all, she was the best and most loyal friend anyone could ever ask for.”
Conversation