About Kirk Murdoch
Anyone who knew Kirk understood that he was incredibly passionate about sport, whether as a player, a coach or an eager spectator. As a younger man he played for and captained Ayr Rugby Football Club and went on to coach mini rugby in his free time. Latterly his passion for golf took over and he was an active member of several golf courses in Ayrshire (Kirk generally conceded though that he was a better prop than a golfer). He enjoyed keeping fit and was an avid gym goer even venturing to high impact cross fit and rowing sessions! One final sports challenge was taking up skiing in his late 50s - gritty determination prevailed! On a deeper level Kirk always believed in the overriding benefits that participation in sport provides – namely that it encourages dedication, good health and team work but that is also an excellent opportunity to make new friends and have a laugh.
Kirk was very much a family man, and loved nothing better than spending time with loved ones, especially his doting black Labrador, Rubie. In his career Kirk was one of the most respected solicitors in Scotland and held senior positions at McGrigors and Pinsent Masons. He also had a large variety of non sporting related interests and passions. As a very proud and “unrepentant” Ayrshireman, Burns Nights were taken very seriously in the Murdoch household, he was involved in numerous local charities including the Irvine Bay Urban Regeneration Project and Ayr Renaissance.
Unfortunately cancer came to take a terrible toll upon Kirk’s life. On Christmas Day 2010 his beloved wife Julie passed away within a year of being diagnosed with non hodgkin’s lymphoma. Following Julie’s death Kirk became an active board member of the Beatson Centre Charity. In 2015 Kirk himself was diagnosed with mouth cancer. He fought his illness for two years, with characteristic tenacity and humour, before he too passed away a few days after his 62nd birthday in March 2017. Kirk’s sincere wish was that a portion of his estate should be used to benefit young people afflicted with cancer. Therefore Kirk's children Katie, Gains and Sandy and his brother Jim established the Kirk Murdoch Charitable Trust in 2019. We all share Kirk’s values and want to do what we can to help the lives of those impacted by this terrible disease a little bit easier.
Kirk was very much a family man, and loved nothing better than spending time with loved ones, especially his doting black Labrador, Rubie. In his career Kirk was one of the most respected solicitors in Scotland and held senior positions at McGrigors and Pinsent Masons. He also had a large variety of non sporting related interests and passions. As a very proud and “unrepentant” Ayrshireman, Burns Nights were taken very seriously in the Murdoch household, he was involved in numerous local charities including the Irvine Bay Urban Regeneration Project and Ayr Renaissance.
Unfortunately cancer came to take a terrible toll upon Kirk’s life. On Christmas Day 2010 his beloved wife Julie passed away within a year of being diagnosed with non hodgkin’s lymphoma. Following Julie’s death Kirk became an active board member of the Beatson Centre Charity. In 2015 Kirk himself was diagnosed with mouth cancer. He fought his illness for two years, with characteristic tenacity and humour, before he too passed away a few days after his 62nd birthday in March 2017. Kirk’s sincere wish was that a portion of his estate should be used to benefit young people afflicted with cancer. Therefore Kirk's children Katie, Gains and Sandy and his brother Jim established the Kirk Murdoch Charitable Trust in 2019. We all share Kirk’s values and want to do what we can to help the lives of those impacted by this terrible disease a little bit easier.
