FORT WILLIAM

Fort William Town Team (FWTT) hopes to enter the town's High Street into the Scottish Urban Regeneration Forum awards this year and are looking for feedback from residents before it applies.

This is the 20th anniversary of the awards for best practice in community regeneration, delivered in partnership with the Scottish Government. The category FWTT wants to enter is ‘Scotland’s Most Improved Place’.

Sue Keen, FWTT secretary, said: ‘The whole community has put in a huge amount of effort and in the past five years the town centre has become much more cared for and a valued place to work, relax and welcome our thousands of visitors each year.

‘So we are seeking your views on how you think the improvements in the town centre have affected you. We would really love to hear what you think.’

For more information on the awards, go to surf.scot/surf-awards. Applications must be submitted by mid September.

A choir from Dudley in the West Midlands is returning to the area for a concert in Fort William’s Duncansburgh MacIntosh Parish Church on Saturday August 18 at 7pm.

Groups from Dudley have been coming to Fort William for many years, with strong friendships formed, and the 2018 concert by The Gentlemen Songsters Male Voice Choir is a chance to renew those links.

The Dudley link, which was started by Bert Bissell, is marked by a peace cairn on the summit of Ben Nevis and a monument in The Parade. Windows from Bert’s church in Dudley are installed in the vestibule at

Duncansburgh MacIntosh. Many groups from the two towns have climbed together. This year around 60 people are coming, including civic leaders from Dudley.

Admission to the concert, which starts at 8pm, is free but there will be a collection for Lochaber Mountain Rescue.