A closing hymn - Guide Me, O Thy Great Redeemer - and a rendition of Doddie's Dream bring the memorial service in his honour to an end. Tony Stanger (Scotland):“Probably Scotland’s greatest ever finisher. He was key as we won the 1990 Grand Slam.” Rugby elder statesman Scott Hastings has been sharing his on social media as loved ones arrive for the service. Thomson, who used to play rugby at Melrose, is among those who have turned out to pay his respects. He says he never changed and has been an absolute pest through his treatment and to medics and scientists.

Doddie Weir: ‘The government has not given motor neurone Doddie Weir: ‘The government has not given motor neurone

In June 2017, Weir, the former Scotland rugby international, revealed he had been diagnosed with the desease Death might stalk him but Doddie suggests that “every day is a learning day. When I was playing rugby and in business [installing septic tanks] I always thought of it as a game of chess. You make a move forward to stay in front. I try and stay in front of MND every day.” Alan Tait (Scotland): “He seemed to have the uncanny ability to always be in the right place at the right time. Then you realised that was because he was pushing opponents into areas where they had no space to work. He was also the tightest man in the world.” I did my autobiography in 2018 (still available online and in all good book shops) and thought that was me, I’ve done the documentary and the book,I’ll just wear the t-shirt now. Then along came a second book, my A-Z Of Life And How To Live It, which was a bit of fun and I had no intention of writing anything else. What became apparent on this journey, was that in the last three years so much more has happened in my life.

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Former rugby player Carl Hogg also paid tribute, saying that the 52-year-old "inspired fundraisers and agitated politicians" Doddie Weir with fellow former international John Jeffrey before Scotland’s 2020 Six Nations match against England at Murrayfield. Photograph: Stu Forster/Getty Images MND was once not talked about. You can’t say that now. More action – especially in terms of the funding required to research this disease and possible cures – needs to be forthcoming. This book is another piece of the jigsaw so to speak, and hopefully a spotlight on what MND sufferers face and feel.

The World According to Doddie: An A-Z of Life and how to Live it

He cannot turn his head in the kitchen on their farm near Galashiels, an hour from Edinburgh, to glance out of the window. But Doddie can feel the warmth of the Scottish sunshine on his skin. “I’ve been thinking how good it is today,” he says, “enjoying the lovely weather when many people with MND don’t have that luxury.” Doddie Weir now sometimes uses Eyegaze software to help him communicate, which helps to give him independence at home. Photograph: Murdo MacLeod/The Guardian Doddie Weir's sons are fittingly wearing tartan suits, a statement that was their father's trademark. Basically it is a muscle wasting disease and that’s how in the later life of MND it is horrific because you need help everywhere. For Kathy, “Doddie thinks a lot more than me. He’s always thinking about his next move and I just go along with it. We make jokes and laugh a lot. You’ve got to do that …”

Last week Doddie and Kathy went to the 25th reunion of the Lions tour of South Africa. All the players’ wives and partners were included at the emotional gathering in Stratford-upon-Avon which meant Tom Smith’s widow, Zoe, was also there. Doddie had been close to Smith, the Scottish prop who was such a revelation in South Africa but died from colon cancer in April. “It was so sad Tom wasn’t there,” Kathy says, “but it was lovely to see Zoe. She’s amazing.”