Charity dinner raises £11,000 for West Highland Museum in Fort

ALMOST 100 guests gathered in the Moorings Hotel to celebrate and support the West Highland Museum in Fort William on Saturday evening.

The charity evening was hosted by Councillor Allan Henderson, who introduced Hugh Dan MacLennan, the self-confessed ‘Caol dude’ who reflected on his early years at school in Fort William. He lauded the prowess of Lochaber in producing sportsmen and politicians on the national stage – and how these professions seem to have been substituted by musical excellence in more recent years.

This was underlined when a musical ensemble from Lochaber High School – pupils Johnny Soe-Paing, Jennifer MacKenna, Ayla Barr Moir, Mairi Bell, Freddy Fulford and staff member, Jen MacNeil - played a wonderful selection of traditional music.

A raffle of donated prizes and an auction overseen by local auctioneer Ian Peter ‘peeps’ MacDonald, raised an incredible total of £11,000 for the museum.

While the last five years has seen the West Highland Museum’s footfall increase from 9,000 to 52,000 (so far this year), finances remain fragile. Without an entry charge, the museum is completely dependent on the generosity of visitors, the support of local volunteers and the energy of its few paid employees - Colleen Barker, Sonja McLachlan and curator Fiona Marwick.

Colleen said: ‘On Saturday night a cohort of local supporters dug deep to secure the museum for the immediate future. Thanks are due to all our supporters, donors, the speakers, artists and Stewart Leitch of the Moorings Hotel whose generosity and encouragement made the evening possible.

‘If you haven’t been lately come and visit us in Cameron Square.’

Photograph: Iain Ferguson, the Write Image, IF F46 WHM Dinner 01. Top table guests at the West Highland Museum charity dinner and auction, backrow from left: Alan Henderson, Kathleen MacLennan, Coleen Barker, John Hutchison. Front row: Sandra Henderson, Hugh Dan MacLennan and Christine Hutchison.