Hundreds gathered at Melrose Parish Church and a much bigger audience at Melrose Rugby Club and watching online heard tributes from former team-mates and his family to a man of huge determination, warmth and fun. It gives Doddie so much more independence,” Kathy says, “and it means I can go outside and he can send a message saying: ‘Can I have a Guinness?’ So I don’t have to be with him constantly. He can also use it to change the channel on the telly or go online. He likes to know what’s going on at the local farmers’ market with the cattle and sheep auction.” Two weeks earlier, on 4 July, he will turn 52. “I think people on the committee [of his foundation] thought I would be long gone by now,” he jokes.

Doddie Weir books and biography | Waterstones Doddie Weir books and biography | Waterstones

Doddie, who has just 38p left in his betting account, becomes more serious when explaining that he avoids discussing death. “I don’t talk about that because I’m trying not to go there.” Jeffrey highlights the last six years of Doddie's life, saying his jokes became more embarrassing, his humour more childish, his pranks more outrageous and his tartan suits more outlandish.

Hamish, Angus and Ben Weir make a striking trio in their tartan suits as they get up to deliver a poem written about their father. Jeffrey becomes emotional as he describes a difficult recent meeting on the future of the foundation post-Doddie.

Doddie Weir fights back tears as Scotland rugby legend speaks Doddie Weir fights back tears as Scotland rugby legend speaks

And his eyes filled with tears as he said: “2020 is going to be a special year because things are now on the table, there is a chance for us. 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. A statement issued by Doddie Weir's wife Kathy on behalf of the family offered thanks to all those who had been "incredibly supportive" over the past two weeks.Doddie Weir's sons are fittingly wearing tartan suits, a statement that was their father's trademark.

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

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.”Doddie Weir of Scotland on the charge for Scotland in victory over Wales at Murrayfield in the 1995 Five Nations. Photograph: David Rogers/Getty Images Kathy rolls her eyes. “He’s got a betting account. But he’s run out of money on it and I refuse to top it up.”

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

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.They know Doddie’s world is shrinking. “We went to Geneva about a month ago,” he says, “and a lot of my friends made a huge effort to get me there. But it was very stressful. I had to be carried on the plane and it’s too difficult now.” While he thought of not talking about it at all he was persuaded because he didn’t want them to be in a situation when he collapsed and medical staff told them they couldn’t do anything. He said: “They took it very well.” 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.”