Courier competition winner Zoe Heggie captivates the Glamis Prom audience on stage at the weekend. Picture: Gareth Jennings.

MUSIC: Uncertainty hangs over future of long-running event

The Glamis Prom in its current form went out without a bang at the weekend.

Music fans who had been treated to a packed programme from the Great British Songbook in the stunning setting of Glamis Castle’s front lawn enjoyed a sun-kissed finale to the long-running event as the curtain came down on Saturday evening.

They also savoured the performance of a new star who shone after winning a Courier Country competition to share the spotlight with the 2018 line-up of Kerry Ellis, Tom Urie, Saskia Eng and Arbroath-born West End musical theatre performer Norman Bowman.

Dundee 19-year-old Zoe Heggie captivated the crowds after the musical theatre student at Lanarkshire’s New College saw off the challenge of more than 2,000 other hopefuls to share the stage with the big names.

The Great British Songbook was the theme of this year’s prom and as many enjoyed picnics and prosecco they were treated to a catalogue of well-known musical favourites, but no traditional firework finale.

Castle bosses will now be looking towards 2019 after the surprise announcement in the lead-up to the prom that the current promoters will not be returning with the event, first staged in the 1990s.

The Glamis Prom Ltd statement sparked an immediate response from Strathmore Estates, which said it had been “slightly disingenuous” to suggest the popular event was at an end.

Factor Willie Inglis said: “It’s the final one for Glamis Prom Ltd, but not the end of the road for spectacular events at Glamis Castle.

“Ultimately, what we choose to do in the grounds is our decision. We’re looking at our options as to what would be most appropriate.

“Glamis Castle is reviewing what’s on offer and we hope to do something different next year.”

Uncertainty over the event’s future was followed by confirmation that castle general manager Tommy Baxter had stepped down from his post on medical advice.

The castle has a busy programme in the weeks ahead, including a sell-out open-air cinema screening of Grease this weekend on the 40th anniversary of the musical movie blockbuster.

Glamis will host a Canines at the Castle gathering on September 9, and the popular Halloween programme is lined up for the end of October.

Carnoustie girls soak up the atmosphere in the sun-kissed finale to Glamis Castle Prom on Saturday night.

Pictures: Gareth Jennings. Top left: Courier competition winner Zoe Heggie sings. Top right: Saski Eng. Left: Crowds in the grounds. Above: Tom Urie and Kerry Ellis sing a duet.

Crowds enjoy the songs programme and, above, Donna O,halloran, Marion Shepherd and Sonia Tinsley, from Brechin.