After Dinner Speakers: Gavin Hastings, Dr. Caroline Jackson, Robin Leigh-Pemberton

Born in Edinburgh in January 1962, Gavin Hastings completed his formal education at Cambridge University some 24 years later, after earlier schooling at George Watsons College in Edinburgh and Paisley University. His rugby career reached new heights at Cambridge winning 2 blues and captaining them in the 1985 Varsity Match, only weeks before winning his first cap for Scotland in the 1986 Five Nations Championship against France alongside his brother Scott. He kicked 6 penalty goals on his debut to give Scotland victory by 18 points to 17. Eight years later both he and Scott turned out in the corresponding fixture at Murrayfield, Edinburgh to collect their 50th caps together. Gavin's rugby career achievements include playing in the first three Rugby World Cups as well as featuring in the historic Grand Slam side of 1990. He captained the British Lions on their tour to New Zealand in 1993 as well as Scotland on 20 occasions, the most historic being their victory over France in Paris for the first time in 26 years. His contributions to sport were acknowledged with an OBE in the 1994 New Years Honours List. Gavin retired from International Rugby in 1995 following the Rugby World Cup in South Africa, having played 61 times for his country and in 6 tests for the British Lions. He scored over 700 points in these games placing him high up in the list of all time record points scorers. Gavin founded Hastings International in September 1995 and embarked upon his latest challenge as though he was starting out on his rugby career all over again. The skills and discipline he learned on the rugby fields around the globe gave him a unique insight into meeting the demands of sponsors with the abilities of sports teams to deliver the benefits. He has kept his profile high through working in television doing commentating and studio presentations on international rugby, as well as contributing regularly to newspapers and the Internet on rugby matters. His love of golf remains as strong as ever and he plays to a 6 handicap on his favoured Gullane Links in East Lothian.