Life @ EA
tEA it up, David Gregson, Episode 8
This is a series of 30-minute interviews are with Accies who have been prominent in the world of sport, either on or off the field of play. Throughout the interviews, we will hear about the skills and life lessons they learned at the Edinburgh Academy to help them succeed in their chosen sports role. Whether as a player, a coach, a writer or an administrator, all will reflect on school life in and out of the classroom and their journey through sport as a career.
Series interviewer, Charles Runcie, was a pupil at the Academy, starting in Miss McKenzie’s Prep 4C at Arboretum Road in 1966, through to Mr Robertson’s VIII Mod class at Henderson Row, a decade later. He enjoyed a 34 year career working in sport at the BBC, joining at Radio Scotland’s Queen Margaret Drive in 1982 before heading south in 1987 to Broadcasting House and BBC Sport. He was latterly Head of Sport for English Regions, a role which as a Scot he always thought quite ironic.
In episode eight, Charles sits with David Gregson. Head Ephor and Dux of the EA in 1974, he pursued a successful career in finance and investment before becoming involved in some of the most important sports stories in this country this century: the 2012 London Olympics and its legacy, chairing the governing body of British tennis during the great years of Sir Andy Murray, witness to the rise of the Women’s Super League in football, and organising the Invictus Games with Prince Harry. David’s seen it all at board level. In a fascinating interview, he talks to Charles Runcie about life on the inside at the very top of UK sport, and how 16 years spent at the EA shaped his future life.
If you missed the last episode with Mike Blair, you can view it here.
