Don't forget to join us at 7.30 this Friday evening for the Gentle Jazz fundraiser in aid of Hospice Africa Uganda. See Kirkton Village Hall transform into a New York jazz club - and also have a chance to win some great raffle prizes donated by local businesses. Please come and support this great cause and enjoy smooth jazz and refreshments in the process.
Friday 6 July 2012, 7.30pm, Kirkton Village Hall. All proceeds for
Hospice Africa Uganda
In Kirkmahoe by popular request, this Dumfries
and Galloway-based combo bring you the best of jazz from the forties and
fifties. Pianist, axophonist, singer and band leader Geoff Keating .
Guitarist John Fenner. Bass guitarist Howard Bradley. Drummer Fergus
Henderson. Come along for a 'cabaret style' evening with fundraising
auction/raffle and help support a fantastic cause at the same time. Price:
£10 from Midsteeple, Thomas Tosh (Thornhill), on the door, or telephone 01387
740045.
Monday, 2 July 2012
Dear
friends and colleagues,
It
is now only a few days till the start of the 2012 Classical Guitar Retreat.
Participants are coming from all over the world and artists are flying into
Scotland to give great concerts and to share their knowledge with all the
students of the guitar. From the 5th to 9th of July the island of Cumbrae
becomes a haven for the Classical Guitar!
There are still
some spaces for anyone who wants to come for a Day Trip and to get a taste of
the CGR. You can still
get tickets for the concerts. The Saturday
& Sunday concerts take place at 3pm which is perfect for those looking for a
day trip to the island and the chance to take in a great concert!
Amadeus Guitar Duo ~ Thursday 5th July,
8pm
Duo Debs Fruscella ~ Friday 6th July,
8pm
Allan Neave & Robert Irvine ~ Saturday 7th July,
3pm
Marcin Dylla ~ Sunday 8th July,
3pm
You can book
concert tickets at the CGR website: http://www.cgretreat.com/concerts If you need
anymore info about concert tickets or Day Trips call 07910471486 (From outside
Uk 00 44 7910471486) For a taste of what to expect from the
Classical Guitar Retreat watch this short video performance
from Ana Vidovic who gave a wonderful concert last year as part of the
Retreat. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaP9-P23-eA Best
wishes, Matthew McAllister
The local Police attend our meetings and are always urging us to be vigilant and
to keep things secure. Someone who lives in Kirkmahoe has just sent me a
message to say she has heard there were a couple of break-ins to garden sheds in
Amisfield earlier this week. Garden furniture stolen and some garden
implements.
If you see any suspicious vehicles or people, the police
do like to know and they do check number plates etc
You can phone the
Dumfries call centre on 0845 600 5701 or anonymously if you wish to
Crimestoppers
The rain held off for our Celebrations, although it was a cold day after the lovely hot spell we had experienced the previous week. With the Village Green looking so Festive adorned in bunting and tents, it was a shame that the entertainment had to be moved to inside Kirkton Village Hall, the barbeques and the drinks tent remaining outdoors.
Despite the cold there was an excellent turnout, and the evening, once again, proved to be a great success.
The evening started with the Children's Fancy Dress Parade the children being led by the Soan Pipers. Peter Landale welcomed everyone.
For such a tiny area it is surprising to see how much Talent turned out for the Kirkton's Got Talent Show.
School Children played tin Whistles
Jordan played the euphonium
Joan Stroud read a selection of her poems which she has had published
Heidi sang Lady Gaga
The Old Geezers played for us
Sam Solley played Boogie Woogie
Ken Meek sang songs for us
The Old Geezers rounded off the evening in their own way.
Everyone went home happy, with some being well refreshed, and all having been much entertained by the extremely talented people from our small area.
Volunteers soon cleared up, the bunting came down, the new barbeque pits were scrubbed.
Many Thanks to the Community Council, to all the volunteers and performers who made it a Day to Remember
Friday, 1 June 2012
80 for 80
Dobie & Connie's Retirement
Kirkton
Parish Hall Committee held a surprise 80th birthday /appreciation party for their
recently retired secretary & treasurer – Dobie Davidson.On Saturday 26th May, 80 folk:
including family, friends and local supporters gathered in the festive and
decorative Kirkton Village Hall as part of the surprise – and what a surprise
Dobie and his wife got! Stuart Martin compered the musical based evening and
entertained everybody with his hilarious stories. The Gallovidians began the
musical programme and performances from local talent including: the Howdles,
the Muirs and Jean Gemmell provided wonderful entertainment to a very special
evening.The Gallovidians wrote a
special polka dedicated to Dobie and his wife Connie.Their daughter, Janette, did a “This is Your
Life” – presentation incorporating pictures from long ago, which brought back
wonderful memories, to young and old.A
handcrafted supper buffet was greatly appreciated by all.
Dobie Davidson gave 50 years of service (1962 – 2012) to
Kirkmahoe Parish Hall Committee, most of that time in the capacity of both
secretary and treasurer. When he first became treasurer, the hall finances were
in a sorry state. He strove hard in the early years to build up funds in the
bank account to earn sufficient interest to cover running costs. Dobie, for
decades unfailingly set up and cleared the hall for events, painted doors,
sanded and varnished the main floor many times, installed roof insulation,
called in tradesmen and served unstintingly as general handyman. In 1964, his
wife Connie joined him and together they have been devoted caretakers, Connie
retired with Dobie.
The
Davidsons on many occasions spearheaded funding-raising ventures.They held coffee mornings, whist drives,
silent auctions and Burns Suppers to name a few. Their community involvement
even spread out from the hall to helping improve facilities on the children's
play park in Kirkton village. Dobie used his own vehicle to make purchases and
he even ferried people to and from meetings and events.
Ex-provost
Ernie Gibson, a former trustee and chairman (1967-2003), described him as
"self-effacing, altruistic, dedicated." He continued: "I believe
that people like Dobie who willingly devote a large part of their life doing
public work without material reward, often in the background, for the good of
their fellows, are much more worthy of public recognition and acclaim than many
of the so-called 'celebrities'."
Dobie
recently was a finalist in the Nithsdale Community Achievement Awards.
A local collection for Dobie, for his services to
the community, resulted in a gift of a card and a cheque, which was presented
to him by senior hall trustee, Mary Harkness during the party. The successful
and most memorable evening finished with music from the Gallovidians and a very
sincere and heart warming vote of thanks from Morag Williams.
(Kirkmahoe News would like to state that this post is not up to usual standards due to technical problems beyond our control)
Wednesday, 30 May 2012
Dear
friends and colleagues,
Here is a link to a short film I just
finished called 'The Luthiers of Fintry'.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vk5dfIRb6mI The
film was shot during a very recent trip to Fintry to visit the workshops of
luthiers Bill Kelday, Sheena Laurie and Michael Ritchie. It features interviews
and performances on various instruments and offers a glimpse into the lives of
three lovely people who are dedicating their lives to the making of
instruments.
There is a collection of photographs from the trip at my
Facebook page.
For
anyone considering coming on the 2012 Classical Guitar
Retreat there are still a few places left, just contact me if you are
interested in attending one of the most special classical guitar events in the
world!
The fourth Classical Guitar Retreat
takes place July 5th -9th at the Cathedral of the Isles on the Island of Cumbrae
off the west coast of Scotland. CGR is a unique course set on a beautiful
Scottish Island with some of the very best performers and educators working to
guide, educate and inspire students of the Classical Guitar. A highlight of the
2012 course is a performance and masterclass by the fantastic Polish guitarist
Marcin Dylla.
JAZZ Evening at Kirkton Village Hall
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