| DAYS LEADING UP TO THE BUTE V-DAY WEEKEND |
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Jess Sandeman, author of the book "Bute's War", speaking at the official launch of her book in the Bute Museum. Jess was introduced by Ms Anne Buchanan (left). The publication of this book was the major project in ButeÕs 60th Anniversary Commemoration programme, and a copy of her book was presented free-of-charge to every schoolchild on the Island. |
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Jess Sandeman presenting an autographed copy of her book "Bute's War" to Commodore Charles Stevenson CBE, Naval Regional Officer for Scotland and Northern Ireland, at the official book launch held in Bute Museum. |
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The Bute Museum was packed for the official launch of Jess Sandeman's book. |
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Another major project involved bringing to the Isle of Bute professional storytellers, registered with the Scottish Storytellers Forum, to tell schoolchildren all about what life was like during the war. This was a most successful project. |
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A storytelling session in one of Bute's primary schools. Storytelling vividly re-enacts history bringing it to life in a way that the written word does not always do. The medium of storytelling enables the storyteller and the listener to engage in such a way that the listener becomes a part of the story. |
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For the week preceding, and including, the V-Day weekend, Bute Museum hosted a comprehensive World War 2 exhibition. Items on display included archive material and artifacts that had not been previously shown. This extremely well-attended exhibition involved an enormous amount of research work, ably led by Jean McMillan, and it too was one of the specific projects that received funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund's "Home Front Recall" initiative. |
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Seen at the Bute Museum's World War 2 Exhibition were Ken Colville and Bill Hassall, co-chairs of Bute's 60th V-Day Anniversary Commemoration Steering Group. |
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On the Thursday evening St Brendan's Church hosted a reception for WW2 Veterans. A capacity audience was treated to a recital by the local choir, The Glen Rosa Singers, accompanied by local pianist Margaret Currie. |
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The Glen Rosa Singers in full voice in St Brendan's. This event was free, but the proceeds from a collection, amounting to £400.00, were donated to SSAFA. |
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Talented local pianist Margaret Currie accompanied the Glen Rosa Singers and kept the audience's hands a-clapping and feet a-tapping. |
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On Friday night Rothesay Castle's Great Hall was the venue for a sponsored cheese and wine supper and caberet. Entitled "A Nightingale Sang - an evening of WW2 Songs", three top class local singers accompanied by David Crawford struck a nostalgic note that kept this sell-out function buzzing. |
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The Castle event "A Nightingale Sang" starred 3 well-known local singers (Gill Brandon-Turner, Vivienne Farris and Janet Skillen) who gave scintillating performances individually and as a trio. |
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Ian Sinclair auctioning a maritime print at the "Nightingale Sang" evening in the Castle, with compere Leonard Cumming looking on. |
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Acclaimed local pianist David Crawford accompanied the three singers in the Castle's Great Hall and kept the sing-alongs of wartime tunes going at a lively pace. |
| SATURDAY 25th JUNE |
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Crowds of locals and visitors enjoy the spectacle of the children's street parade which set off from opposite the Glenburn Hotel and proceeded along the waterfront to Guildford square. |
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Depute Lord Lieutenant of Argyll and Bute Lynn Bulloch with Cmdr. John Lorimer DSO and Argyll and Bute Convener Cllr Billy Petrie arriving at Guildford Square in Alan Ewing's horse and trap. |
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The official party at the Guildford Square event watch enthusiastically the rest of the parade passing along Albert Place before turning into the square. |
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Dancers, children in fancy dress, and professional street entertainers led the street parade into Guildford Square. |
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Colourfully decorated float participating in the children's street party. |
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Float with people in period costume nearing Guildford Square. |
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Rothesay & District Pipe Band leading the procession into Guildford Square. |
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Rothesay & District Pipe Band entertain the large crowds at the start of the Guildford Square festivities. |
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Isle of Bute's Army Cadets formed a guard of honour for the Dignitaries when they arrived at Guildford Square, and then performed a drill display as part of the entertainment at the commencement of the day's events. |
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Depute Lord Lieutenant for Argyll & Bute, Lynn Bulloch, declaring the Guildford Square event formally opened as special VIP guests look on. |
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The official party at Guilford Square included Cllr Len Scoullar and Mrs Scoullar, the Depute Lord Lieutenant of Argyll & Bute Lynn Bulloch and Mrs Bulloch, Cmdr. John Lorimer DSO and Mrs Lorimer, and the Convener of Argyll & Bute Council Cllr Bill Petrie and Mrs Petrie. |
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Some of the excellent fancy dress outfits on show during the Guildford Square children's parade and street entertainment. |
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Most of the island's children entered heartily into the spirit of things, and there were many innovative fancy dress efforts. |
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Street entertainers captivate the young while older folk examine the goods on offer at many specialist stalls. |
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The crowds in Guildford Square were treated to fine exhibitions of highland dancing by local children's groups. |
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These street entertainers turned their hand to an acrobatic display which had the crowds and dignitaries enthralled. |
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Crowds watching the Guildford Square puppet show. |
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Children captivated by the puppet show put on as one of the events during the Guildford Square festivities. |
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Young and old, cheered along by an enthusiastic crowd, did a cracking rendition of the Hokey Kokey in Guildford Square. |
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Older folk, including the Convener of the Argyll & Bute Council (wearing his official chain), dancing the "Gay Gordons" in Guildford Square. |
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The people of Bute turned out in force to welcome a packed PS Waverley which undertook a symbolic evacuee voyage, and brought hundreds of visitors to the Saturday events. |
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Ladies attired in period costume awaiting the arrival of the PS Waverley. |
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The scene that greeted the arrival of the PS Waverley - crowds of well-wishers and the Rothesay & District Pipe Band who piped the vessel into Rothesay Bay. |
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A capacity PS Waverley arrives at Rothesay Pier to be greeted by a huge welcoming crowd and special performance of the Rothesay & District Pipe Band. |
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Flags adorn the walkway along Rothesay Pier leading from where the Waverley docked to the festivities in Guildford Square. |
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Procession along the Pier led by local lasses in period dress. |
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On Saturday afternoon while the Guildford Square children's event was in full swing, the Glasgow Phoenix Choir gave a recital to a packed Ôolder' audience in Trinity Church. |
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Rothesay Pavilion was the venue for Saturday night's festivities. The "Bute Players" performed a locally written play "Victory Dance", and then the auditorium changed over into a 'Glenn Miller'-type swing dance session with the legendary Harry Margolis Band from Glasgow keeping the 850 guests on their feet. |
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Harry Margolis conducting his Big Band belting out with Glenn Miller style jazz. |
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The Rothesay Academy Swing Band also performed superbly during the Pavilion evening. |
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A section of the 850 people enjoying the Pavilion jazz and dance party with the Harry Margolis Big Band. |
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The Pavilion resounded to the 'trad jazz' of Harry Margolis and the show brought back memories of how the same venue heaved with locals and troops on Saturday nights during the otherwise gloomy times during the war years. |
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During the Pavilion jazz evening well-known Scottish impresario Johnny Beattie, with local Councillor Len Scoullar on the left, presented the winner of Rothesay Golf Club's "V-Day Commemorative Golf Tournament", John Gilchrist, with the floating trophy sponsored by the V-Day Steering Group. |
