Revellers raise funds for Macmillan at Caol ball
Family and friends of a Spean Bridge soldier donned their best bibs and tuckers recently for what is hoped will be an annual celebration and thank you for the work of the local Macmillan Cancer Support charity.
Following a suggestion put forward by a friend on how to celebrate the life of her late husband, Jeanette Lane set about organising The Macmillan Ball. Retired senior army officer Kevin Lane of Stronaba was nursed by Macmillan Cancer Support staff during his illness last year and family and friends wished to show their appreciation for the endless care he was given.
Held at Caol Community Centre on Saturday March 19, the event provided a full evening’s entertainment for the 89 supporters in attendance. A welcome glass of bubbly was followed by a three-course dinner prepared and served by CC Bar Services’ Sandra and Alistair Fraser and staff.
Sandra had already started decorating the hall with streamers and wall lighting on Friday evening when a team led by Jeanette and sons David from London and Michael, who flew in from Perth, Western Australia, especially to be there, arrived with more decorations. These included enough balloons to make two spectacular arches of green and white, the Macmillan charity colours. The job of inflating and knotting every one ran with appropriate military precision. By the end of the night, the hall was festooned, looking like a Celtic Football Club fantasy land - accepted with magnanimity by everyone in the spirit of the occasion. Musical entertainment on the Saturday night was fronted by the Great Glen Swing Band led by another evergreen, John Whyte, on his smooth trombone. This was the band’s first full-on two set gig since before lockdown, but the listener would hardly have known it. The band treated everyone to a selection of up-beat swing
music, with singers Brian Hepburn and Sheena Coull out front for classics including I Feel Good and Minnie The Moocher.
Raffle tickets sold like hot cakes as did bids on the silent auction. The organisers thank everyone who donated prizes, cash and auction items for their generosity.
The raffle draw was great fun with Kevin and Jeanette’s sons David and Michael on top form officiating and wringing every drop of kindness from auction bidders.
Raffle ticket sellers Sue and Gaynor went round the tables collecting money to add to the night’s fantastic fundraising.
Neil McBain brought along his Nimble Mobile Disco to provide background music and later closed out the night by setting the dance floor ablaze with a classic party set featuring all of the actions from YMCA to Agadoo. It was the 1970s all over again.
Final reckonings are yet to be made but at the time of writing it looks like a donation of £3,600 will go to the Lochaber Macmillan Cancer Support team.
Every pound of this will be spent in Lochaber on all manner of things to make life a little easier at what can be a very difficult time. Look out for The Macmillan Ball in March 2023.