The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
A full house for charity Full Monty
Hundreds of women packed out a Perth nightclub on Saturday as more than a dozen brave men took to the stage to recreate a hit 1997 film. Alan Glynn and a group of volunteers stripped off for a charity Full Monty to raise funds for Meningitis Now.
HUNDREDS OF women packed out a Perth nightclub on Saturday as more than a dozen brave men took to the stage to recreate a hit 1997 film.
Alan Glynn and a group of willing volunteers stripped off for a charity Full Monty to raise funds for Meningitis Now.
Ticket sales for the event at the Loft raised £2,500 and a raffle on the night added at least £1,000 to the pot, though the final amount is still to be calculated.
Organiser Alan has been fundraising for meningitis charities since his toddler daughter succumbed to the condition in February 2011.
She and her twin sister Christina had been struck down with a sickness bug in February 2011 and 19-month-old Alexis Rose died in her sleep after developing meningitis.
Christina did not develop meningitis and is now an active four-year-old.
She and older brother Billy were later joined by baby sister Amber.
The father of four was one of two groups who stripped as far as their underwear — but a third intrepid group went all the way.
The evening also featured topless “butlers”.
Alan Blyth, 35, a member of the fireman finale troupe, said the experience had been “exhilarating”.
He said: “I was nervous but alcohol helped the situation.
“I loved hearing all the women screaming.”
Also on the stage was St Johnstone legend Jim Weir.
The former central defender, who went on to manage Montrose, Arbroath and Brechin, took part in two routines — keeping his underwear on for both.
After the performances, he said he had trained for the event.
“I was still up at 12am last night, practising,” he went on.
“Just before going out I was fine but when I came off I was shaking like a leaf from the adrenaline.
“The boys have put so much into it so, hopefully, the audience had a great time.
“I’ve never danced before but it was a great experience for a great cause,” he added.
Audience member Tanya Yeats had a special reason for attending the show.
She lost her five-month-old daughter, Leah Mae, to meningitis in January.
Tanya said: “It’s been a great night and a different way of raising funds to fight meningitis. It’s a worthwhile cause and this is an inventive way of raising awareness.”
Alan Glynn and his wife, Ruth, have already raised tens of thousands of pounds for meningitis charities in memory of Alexis Rose.