A MEMORIAL bench honouring Rangers legend Ian ‘the wee Prime Minister’ McMillan has been unveiled at the care home where he passed away in February, with his two unsuspecting daughters “surprised” by the tribute.
The former Rangers forward - who spent six trophy-laden years at Ibrox between 1958 and 1964 - passed away at the age of 92 at Erskine Veterans Home in Bishopton earlier this year. In Ian’s honour, the Rangers Supporters Erskine Appeal (RSEA) decided to donate £1500 towards the care home’s new garden.
Ian’s daughters Laura Russell and Lesley Bartlett were invited to come and see the newly opened garden on October 7. However, they were unaware that RSEA had also funded a special memorial bench to be made honouring their father.
The unsuspecting Laura and Lesley were given a tour of the garden, eventually arriving at a mysterious covered object. At this point, a piper began playing, whilst Rangers chairman John Gilligan and former Airdrieonians chairman Bobby Watson emerged, and the bench was revealed.
Ian’s daughter Lesley said her dad “would have been so proud.”
“It was a wonderful surprise,” she said. “We had no idea this was happening today.
“Dad would have been so proud. It’s lovely that he is remembered.”
Rangers Chairman John Gilligan called Ian “a genuine Ibrox legend.”
"What a lovely gesture by the Rangers fans to pay tribute to Ian, who was a hero to thousands and a genuine Ibrox legend," he said.
Former Rangers player and Airdrieonians chairman Bobby Watson described Ian as a “great friend.”
"Ian McMillan was a gentleman and a great friend,” he said. “The bench is a very fitting tribute to him."
Ian won four league titles, three Scottish cups and two Scottish league cups during his six years at Ibrox. He made six appearances for the Scottish national team, and also spent 12 years across two spells at Airdrieonians, whom he later went on to manage.
Ian was inducted into the Scottish Football Hall of Fame in 2018, and was the oldest living Rangers player at the time of his passing. He became known as ‘the wee Prime Minister’ due to sharing the surname of Harold Macmillan, PM between 1957 and 1963.
Tom Clark, founder and secretary of RSEA, called Ian a “true gentleman.”
“Ian was a terrific Ranger,” he said, “but also one of the nicest men you ever could meet. A very soft-spoken old fashioned gent - a lovely man.
"It's such a privilege to be able to honour Ian in this way. I'm so glad his daughters enjoyed their emotional return trip to the Erskine home."
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