The Kintyre Forum

A truly wonderful evening was held last night at Campbeltown Grammar School in aid of Marie Curie Cancer Care. Local man Peter Graham organised the evening as part of his fund raising target of £4,000.

On the 21st February 2011, Peter, along with 29 others from across the UK, will embark on a 6 day trek to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro. At 19,340 feet (5,895m), Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest point in Africa and the highest free-standing mountain in the world. The altitude of the climb alone presents a significant challenge with many climbers unable to complete the summit due to the physical demands on the body.

So why do this? Peter said “Well, I was bored one day so I decided I needed a challenge and since some unfit celebrities had managed it I thought this seemed as good as any. Having climbed the 200m monsters of Knockscalbert and Beinn Ghuilean though I was starting to wonder if I had bitten off more than I could chew. However, doing this challenge for a charity as worthwhile as Marie Curie Cancer Care certainly helps provide a focus to the whole experience. Not least with a fundraising target set at £4,000!”

Peter added “So hence the comedy night. Aside from the need to raise funds I wanted to do something slightly different and make it an event for Campbeltown people to enjoy. So far there has been great support and enthusiasm for both the cause and the event so I hope everyone enjoys the evening’s entertainment.”

And enjoy and support the people of Campbeltown did as a packed Grammar School Assembly Hall laughed throughout the night. MC for the evening was the hilarious Billy Kirkwood who had the audience in stitches within seconds of arriving on stage. Ayrshire born comic Billy – a double Bafta Award winner – is in massive demand and it is credit to Peter to have such a highly talented MC for the evening. Next up was Chris Henry followed by the equally talented Stuart Mitchell and Chris Conroy. The raffle and Auction took place before Santa look alike Graham Mackie finished the comedians night off in great style.

Reports last night suggested the evening had raised around £6,000 which is brilliant but we will confirm once Peter gets back to us later this week.

Great evening for a great cause, well done Peter! You certainly gave Campbeltown a night to remember!!



Dave Adams entertained the crowd to start the evening with a great solo act.



Peter Graham, who organied the event introduces the evening.



Billy Kirkwood - superb choice ofMC.



Billy Kirkwood



Chris Henry



Thirsty work



Stuart Mitchell



Stuart Mitchell



"Dave" and Billy's Dad Les get the crowd going.



It later turned out that Dave wasn't his really name and he wasn't actually an electrician either. Same for his friend Willie who claimed to be an accountant! Graham who fixes lorrys did tell the truth!



Santa Claus lookalike - Graham Mackie. This fella really is a school teacher!



Graham Mackie



Graham Mackie



Billy helps Peter with the raffle - thanks for the prize by the way!



Raffle winner Julie looks on in anticipation as Darren Brodie checks she really is the winner!



Billy really doesn't want to give this raffle prize away - look how tight he is gripping it in the hope no-one has the winning ticket! Peter meantime decides to give the crowd a moony.



Look at the devastation on Billy's face as the raffle is won!



Campbeltown's very own Gary Tank Commander, Scott McBrayne enjoys the evening along with Elaine McGeachy.



Time to relax for Peter with friends, Dave and ?



Chris Conroy and Chris Henry enjoy the craic at the end of the evening.

Kintyre Forum News wrote:Reports last night suggested the evening had raised around £6,000 which is brilliant but we will confirm once Peter gets back to us later this week.

For clarity this was the approx. amount of money taken in on the night (was mentioned over the mic) but costs were still to come off. The final figure has still to be received but believed to be somewhere in the region of between £4,500 to £4,800 clear profit.

Kintyre Forum News wrote:

Kintyre Forum News wrote:Reports last night suggested the evening had raised around £6,000 which is brilliant but we will confirm once Peter gets back to us later this week.

For clarity this was the approx. amount of money taken in on the night (was mentioned over the mic) but costs were still to come off. The final figure has still to be received but believed to be somewhere in the region of between £4,500 to £4,800 clear profit.

Folks,

The official figures for the night are takings of £7,538 for a clear profit of £4,617! This figure will go directly to Marie Curie Cancer Care.

Thanks again to all those who attended and made the night a great success - the profit on the night exceeded the target for my entire fundraising activities!

I must also extend a massive thanks to those who helped before, during and after the event. There is no way this could have been possible at all let alone making the sort of profit that it eventually did and running as smooth as it may have appeared to the beer goggle wearing onlookers.

So big thanks to; everyone who helped promote the night in advance and gain ticket sales - Elaine and Davie P especially, Kenny Johnson for radio promotion & Johnny in Taylors for selling the tickets, Buffa as facebook rep. To all the local event sponsors and donators of raffle/auction prizes. To everyone who helped with set up and clearing the hall - Daz, Stuart, David, Mairi, Louise, Jane, Carolyn, Fiona, Lorna, Anton, Deek, Lynsey, Rab & Andy and to those who mucked in on the night (most without needing to be asked) especially Rab & Stuart at the door and with raffles tickets, Daz with the sound/lighting, those behind the bar which ended up being pretty hectic - Donald & Faye, John & Flora, Carolyn and my old man (cheers for the extra booze), Morgan's brush skills. Also to Archie and Stuart at AM transport for lorry steering, the Ardshiel Hotel for kindly housing the comedians free of charge, Bill Crossan and the Grammar school for arranging lighting and providing free use of the hall, Dave for great music at the start, Craig Dickson for the bar licence and fridges, Jamie G for sound equipment, Peninver hall committee for free use of chairs, Billy McLean for staffing at the event and helping with the hall, David for supplying the horse box and the Burnside for the additional supplies of Vodka!.... I'm starting to wonder if i really done anything here!!

Lets hope this is the first of many.
Cheers,
Peter

Well done Peter! Great night was had by all and what a fanatstic amount raised for Marie Curie