Duncan bows to his Hollywood hero

Duncan McKelvie (seated) gets his lifetime membership from Isla Archers chairman Derek Samson.

A MOVIE stunt double, dubbed the world’s greatest archer, first inspired veteran Moray coach Duncan McKelvie to pick up a bow and arrow.

Now the founder of Keith’s Isla Archers club has hit the bullseye after being given a lifetime membership by the Scottish Archery Association.

And the 81-year-old, who remembers guarding the procession route at the Queen’s Coronation in 1952, is preparing his club for a special demonstration to mark Her Majesty’s diamond jubilee year.

Mr McKelvie was recently honoured by his sport’s governing body in recognition of his long service to archery in Moray.

His lifetime membership follows an award from the Grand National Archery Society in July, when he was named as the Scottish region’s unsung hero at a gala dinner in Liverpool.

On his latest accolade, the coach said: “I didn’t expect to get anything like that. It was quite a surprise.

“Archery has always been my hobby, and it’s a sport I love. I don’t really shoot now because I have arthritis in my neck, but I enjoy the coaching just as much.”

He formed the Isla Archers in his home town of Keith in 1975 and has watched the club go from strength to strength. He coaches an average of 40 local archers at each of the club’s shooting sessions at the town’s community centre, and enjoys watching young enthusiasts turn into sharpshooters.

Next year, the Keith club has been invited by the Lord Lieutenant of Moray, Grenville Johnston, to take part in a celebration of the Queen’s diamond jubilee at Ballindalloch.

It is an honour which will take Mr McKelvie on a trip down memory lane to the historic day when his Gordon Highlanders’ army regiment was given a special Royal appointment.