OctoberFest arts extravaganza in Milton of Campsie a huge success

The Village Hall Trust benefit event raised a total of £383.

As always the Art Club put on a fine display and sold 18 per cent of paintings. Musicians, many from afar, gave their services to help the hall in its renovation work

Visitors enjoyed the great variety of art, music, dance and refreshments, especially the Scottish Real Ales provided by MoC Coop!

The chair of the Hall Trust, David Stirling opened the show, then lovely background music was provided by Andrew Greig (piano) and Elliott Summers, (guitar). While the pictures were being viewed. Milton of Campsie Art Club members provided fine hospitality with Fair-Trade drinks and table service.

A trusty team of helpers from the village made this event possible.

Those to be thanked for giving help with refreshments included Fiona Quirk, Margaret Boyle, Ann Pert, Mary Bannatyne, Anne Sharp, Mia Casey and Laura of MoC Coop.

Thanks also to those who dealt with staging, equipment and furniture – Andrew Morton, Jim Pert, Syd Sharp, Michael Boyle, Geoff Foord, Arran Summers and Susan Murray.

The Art Club excelled in displaying 63 framed paintings. Buyers bought 11 of these and chose a dozen pictures from a print selection and table-sale.

Visitors voted for their favourite picture and the outright winner this year was Carla Faulkner.

The Art Club again produced an excellent Calendar showing their paintings. It’s now on sale for only £3 at the Post Office in Milton of Campsie and the Auld Kirk Museum. Thanks to East Dunbartonshire Arts Council for support with the calendar and the technical skill of George Smith.

A packed hall of folk lovers enjoyed the local Campsie Scottish Folk Players who played a mixture of traditional music and their own compositions.

The ever-popular Willow Moon singers gave a brilliant close-harmony performance.

In the ceilidh dance interludes songs from Stan Quirk and Rena Scott were a delight. The nine-piece Campsie Ceilidh Band got the joint jumping, with everyone on the floor for the final Orkney Strip the Willow.

The nine Lydia De Rosa Singers gave a really professional presentation of music, ancient and modern – a magnificent show with lots of fun.

The Hall was packed to capacity for Sunday afternoon Jazz. The audience enjoyed trad with Stevie’s Up-Town Band, followed by the fine voice of Chris Clark with guitar.

The organisers acknowledge financial help from G66+live, MoC Coop, Kenwil printers, and the Kirkintilloch Herald for their support in making this festival a terrific success.

Many thanks to all involved in raising money for the Village Hall Trust’s Hall restoration.