Dinner for Ryan was ‘the best yet’

THIS year’s Ryan MacPhail memorial dinner has been described as the most successful to date.

The annual dinner raised a total of just over £13,000, which will go to clubs and organisations around Oban, including children’s charities.

This year’s event was so successful thanks to the introduction of a raffle, as opposed to the auction that typically takes place.

The dinner is held in the Argyllshire Gathering Halls and it is followed by a series of guest speakers.

Speaking at the event this year were the former Manchester United, Rangers and Northern Ireland star Jimmy Nicholl, the former Celtic and Scotland player Tosh McKinlay and John McKelvie, a retired policeman and football referee.

Alan MacPhail said: ‘It was very successful. It was a great night. I would say that’s the best in regards to raising money that we’ve had.

‘That was the first time that we have done a raffle. Every other year we have just done an auction. We had this raffle that the girls got together and it was brilliant. It was a good idea and they did it live on Facebook.

‘John MacKelvie stood in for Sandy Strang, who was originally coming to the dinner, but he took not well and had to cancel.

‘John is a retired policeman. But he is on the after- dinner circuit and he is an ex-referee.

‘The whole thing was excellent. All the speakers were really good. They spoke about their careers – it was good banter. John MacKelvie just did stories about his life between the refereeing and his career in the police. It was all good fun.

‘It was a sell- out. That was probably as busy as it has ever been. It was certainly a full house. I don’t think Amanda could have fitted many more in. It was to the brim.

‘The money raised is all spent locally.’

Amanda MacPhail added: ‘ The money helps a mix. It goes to anything under-18 such as youth football teams, shinty, rugby, sick children, school trips – anything.

‘The night was great. One of the best, I would say. I think we’ve raised the most money on this one.

‘I’d like to say thanks to everyone for the continued support and hopefully they will support us every year. However, we couldn’t do it without the staff.’

For more information and to stay up to date regarding next year’s event, visit Ryan MacPhail Memorial Fund on Facebook.

All photographs: Kevin McGlynn Top: The top table at the Ryan MacPhail memorial dinner, from left, chairman John Horne, Alan MacPhail, co-founder of the charity with his wife Amanda, Jason MacPhail, Celtic legend Tosh McKinlay, former Rangers star Jimmy Nicholl and John MacKelvie.

Above right: Time for a chat before Tosh McKinlay, Jimmy Nicholl and John McKelvie entertain diners.

Above left: Graham Anderson, Jack Baxter and John MacGregor from R A Clement Assoc enjoying a beer. Below left: Innes Clark, left, and Angus MacPherson get to grips with Celtic legend Tosh McKinlay.

Below right: John Horne, left, and Alan MacPhail, with Roddy McCuish, centre. Far right: Father and son Ruaridh and Mark Kain enjoying the dinner.