Famous faces line up for charity’s anniversary

Craws Nest Trust gets ready to mark 30th year

“If we’re not made aware, we can’t begin to help.”

That’s always been Eleanor Bowman’s ethos, and it remains so to this day as the charity she started with her husband Sandy prepares to mark its 30th anniversary.

Many might know it as the East Neuk Wheelchair Appeal, the Craw’s Nest Wheelchair Appeal, or its latest guise as the Craws Nest Trust but fundraising has been at its heart since 1989, when the Bowman family ran the Craw’s Nest Hotel in Anstruther.

At that time, the couple held raffles at a Saturday night dinner dance and a gallon-bottle on the bar for loose change. Scotch tablet sold at the reception would raise hundreds of pounds.

More than £600,000 has been raised in three decades and more than 180 people have benefited from renewed mobility.

Eleanor said: “It’s great seeing and hearing stories about the difference a chair has made to someone’s life.”

The cause’s main fundraiser for the year was a charity dinner and auction items over the years have ranged from a meet and greet with Mumford and Sons, a signed drum skin from Coldplay, a signed guitar from Snow Patrol and Sir Paul McCartney’s mandolin.

One of the charity’s biggest supporters is Sir Alex Ferguson, who has helped secure speakers for the dinner and donated numerous Manchester United items for auction, as well as allowing himself to be interrogated for the charity’s 25th anniversary gala dinner.

Eleanor said: “I think one of my favourite moments was when we would hold our yearly presentation night in the ballroom of the Craw’s Nest Hotel.

“Seeing the kids and adults whizz about the dance floor to the sounds of the disco on their new chairs, giving them a new-found freedom, was truly an amazing sight.

“The smiles on their faces was a picture, reminding everyone in that room just how worthwhile our fundraising was, and still is.”

Eleanor has enlisted the help of her DJ daughter Edith for an event at Dunfermline’s Alhambra Theatre on October 8.

Cycling legend Sir Chris Hoy will be in conversation with Edith on stage and Gary: Tank Commander, Greg McHugh, will be a special guest.

A gala ball with a live band will be held in the Crail Cow Shed on November 23, while the annual party night will take place in Anstruther Town Hall on December 13.

The smiles on their faces was a picture. ELEANOR BOWMAN

Picture: Steve Brown. Eleanor Bowman started the charity in the East Neuk with her husband.