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Culter Football Club

Friday

11 November 2005

 

Dinner No. 20
 

Celebrity Dinner XX

Our 20"' Celebrity Dinner was again held in The Dyce Skean Dhu Hotel, the same venue since our initial Dinner on Monday 14 April 1986 which featured Bernard Manning, Harry Bannerman and Archie McPherson.

Organiser Eric Duncan for his 20t" time master-minded the function ably assisted by Doug Milne and Doug Jamieson whilst Margaret Davidson excelled controlling the Dinner's financial transactions during the busy evening.

The attendance this year was almost 200 gentlemen. Two single decker special buses conveyed us to the event via The Palm Court Hotel.  op Table Guest was Evening Express Reporter Paul Thomson who gives great coverage of our area's Junior Football.   Piper Robert Grant, recent winner of the North of Scotland Solo Piping Championship, piped in the Top Table. Club President Doug Jamieson made an excellent introductory speech - so good in fact that Gander went up to him immediately afterwards to shake his hand!

Gordon Morrison, as customary, said Grace.     This year, however, he composed a very special one, as follows:­

We've gathered here for Twenty Years

We've drunk their spirits, wines and beers

 We've known success, we've heard the cheers

Even harboured Relegation fears

 

Now here again in party mood

Midst company that's always good

This Amazing Grace' will, as it should

Extol the excellence of the food

 

So lets enjoy the evening through

Till 12 o'clock or one or two

We're grateful to the Skean Dhu

And even more to all of you.

 

For what we are about to receive may the Lord make us truly thankful.

 

There was a "Heads and Tails" start with the winner of the £300 prize being Peter Longmoor, a former Culter star player of yesteryear. In the audience as well as present day Committee Members were other players from Peter's era - George Ritchie, Arthur Watt , Bob Westland, Stuart Davidson, Kip McKenzie, Eric Duncan, Alex Irvine and Doug Jamieson. There was - also a Pre Dinner Raffle featuring fine prizes.   The company enjoyed a splendid meal accompanied by wines.

 Peter Mitchell was again our Compere, the doyen of Master of Ceremonies, for his fourth time.

He kept the audience entertained during his skilful auctioneering of the many fine items on offer and did equally well with the announcing of our splendid raffle prizes. Our thanks go to all those who donated excellent auction and raffle items and also to the charming sales ladies , Jennifer, Marianne and Margaret plus members who cajoled the gentlemen into purchasing tickets. Jimmy Nicholl, ex Manchester United, Rangers and Northern Ireland, now Assistant Manager Aberdeen FC, was a most able Guest Speaker and was given much justified applause after his speech.   Jimmy had been due to be our Guest Speaker back in November 2001 but had to withdraw on that occasion due to unforeseen circumstances - on that occasion he was replaced by Tommy Smith, former Liverpool star.

 Raconteur John McKelvie ably completed the line up.  He recently retired from Strathclyde Police latterly as Superintendent at Govan.   John joined Lanarkshire Referees' Association in 1970 and his refereeing career saw him officiate at Scottish Amateur Cup Finals at youth and full amateur level. His true and funny refereeing anecdotes plus his stories from his 30 years John McKelvie in Strathclyde Police were much enjoyed by the audience.

 Pre Dinner Raffle Winners:­

Brazil Shirt signed by Ronaldo Rivaldo & Ronaldinho - Phil Bowie c/o WM Donald; Aberdeen FC signed Football - Gary Duff; Weekend stay for Two at Express by Holiday Inn, Edinburgh - ]an Reid, c/o The Dutch Mill; Selection of Choice Spirits - Graham McWhirter, Russell Pennie c/o MTM and Wayne Longden c/o Steadfast.

Auction Items:­

Arjen Robben signed Chelsea shirt - Doug Milne,  Aberdeen Aberdeen FC hospitality package for four - John Murphy, Aberdeen

Golf package for four at Skibo Castle - Mark Illingworth, Expro Group Ltd, Aberdeen

 Christiano Ronaldo Manchester Utd signed shirt - A Wallace, Crown Park Consultants

 Holiday in Bordeaux for one week - Doug Milne,  Aberdeen

Manchester Utd hospitality package for four - J Miller, Miller Plant, North Lurg, Midmar

 Pavel Nedved signed Juventus shirt - Peter M Longmoor, Aberdeen

Golf Package for four at Newtonmore - Arthur J Watt, Steadfast Scotland, Aberdeen

 Thierry Henry signed commemorative shirt - Neil Stevenson,  Aberdeen

Ryder Cup print signed by Bernhard Langer - Alex Barclay,  Aberdeen

Culter BB Pipe Band Performance - Rod Coffe.,Pitfodels. Aberdeen

Culter FC hospitality package for six - Frank Duguid, MTM Construction, Blackburn

Tiger Woods montage with signed glove - James G Smith,  Cults, Aberdeen

Andriy Schevchenko Milan signed shirt - Doug Milne,  Aberdeen

George Best limited edition signed print - John Anderson,  Aberdeen

Brazil shirt signed by the legendary Pele - Norman Forrest,  Aberdeen

Muhammed Ali montage - Wayne Longden,  Ellon

 

Raffle Winners:­

Panasonic digital camcorder - Bobby Thomson; Two tickets for One Night of Queen at AECC with hospitality - Gordon Nicoll, The Dutch Mill; Meal for four at Palm Court - Ally Clark; Golf for four at Peterculter - Slaz; Weekend for two Holiday Inn Glasgow - Ken Ross; Wayne Rooney signed England shirt - Gary Duff; Two nights B&B for four at Holiday Inn Carlisle - Gary Campbell; Two tickets for Lord of the Dance at AECC with hospitality - Sandy Roy; Meal for four at Dutch Mill - Paul Gemmel; Weekend for two Holiday Inn Edinburgh - winner's name unknown; Four Tickets for Braemar Gathering - Jim Grant, c/o MTM; Meal for four Holiday Inn Junction AECC - Keith Reid; Weekend for two Glasgow Thistle - Jim Smith; Meal for four Dyce Skean Dhu - Murdo Jessiman; Weekend for two Holiday Inn Telford - winner's name unknown; Golf for four Meldrum House - Robert Smith; Aberdeen Bus Travel package - Doug Milne; Bottle Whisky - Jim Stewart; Bottle Armagnac -Richard Nicoll.

On the return journey home in a double decker bus Piper Robert Grant entertained the passengers by piping splendidly all the way home - upstairs and downstairs!

A fitting finish to another great Culter FC Celebrity Dinner night out.

 

Piper Robert Grant

 

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