Celebrity Dinner XXIV

Our excellent Function Organiser Eric J Duncan, for his 24th time, did his customary first class work in arranging our Dinner, with the valuable help of Doug Jamieson and Doug Milne Margaret Davidson performed her normal vital duty of dealing with the financial matters during the hectic evening.

The attendance was 233 gentlemen, our best attendance since 2001, which was quite surprising considering the present financial climate. A 49 seater coach took members, supporters and guests to the Dinner from The Seafield Club whilst a 16 seater minibus conveyed the Cutter contingent. Unfortunately both Top Table guests. Evening Express Reporter Richard Easton and Deeside Piper Reporter Danny Law called off due to ill-health.
Piper Bruce Fraser led the Top Table to their seats in the attractive function room.
Club President Doug Jamieson made a splendid introductory speech. He gave thanks to Hotel Manager Vicky Main and her staff for everything being so well organised. He welcomed Guests Bobby Gray, former Team Manager, Andy Gibson and Gary Thow, current Joint Team Managers and Murray Rattray, Team Coach. He extended his best wishes to the Team Officials in the forthcoming formidable Scottish Junior Cup Tie against Bathgate Thistle and for the rest of the current Season. Doug spoke about the necessity of fund raising and expressed our gratitude to all those who sponsored us so favourably — Main Sponsor, Shirt Sponsors, Match Bali Sponsors, Match Day Sponsors, Ticket Sponsors, Dinner Table Sponsors, and thanked them all so much for their support. He hoped that everyone was to have a great night.

Doug then introduced the Top Table Speakers — Kenny Burns, Bryan Hector Cooney and Compere extraordinaire Peter Mitchell. Doug thanked those involved in organising the Dinner — he made kind remarks about myself and spoke highly of Eric J Duncan, Cutter FC’s main fund raiser, and Doug Milne, Main Sponsor, who carries out a multitude of Club tasks, and who is the top asset the Club has ever acquired.

Heads & Tails. Compere Peter Mitchell started the evening with the customary ‘Heads & Tails” competition. There were only two contestants remaining and Peter gave them the choice of sharing the £500 Prize or to continue for only one winner. John McHardy and Raymond McCombie chose to split the prize giving them £250 each but very kindly elected to donate £100 each back to Culter FC Funds. This unexpected gesture was greatly appreciated by Cutter Football Club and our grateful thanks go to John and Raymond for their generosity.

Pre-Dinner Raffle Winners:- AFC Match Package — Alan Archibald; Meal for Four at The Dutch Mill — initially won by Billy Hay, employee of The Dutch Mill, who kindly donated his prize back and it was then won by Gordon Mackie; Weekend for Two at Express by Holiday Inn, Edinburgh — Martin Callan.
Doug Jamieson said Grace after the Pre-Dinner Raffle had been completed.
 

Auction Items:- Successful bidders for the Auction items were:
Paul Gascoigne signed display - David F McLeod
X Factor Package at AECC - Neil McDonald
Ryder Cup artist print signed by Monty - George Clark
Perth Races by Limousine - Allan Henderson
Jenson Button Montage - Bill Duguid
Real Madrid Shirt signed by Kaka -Chris Collie
Fishing for two on the Dee - Graham McWhirter
Celtic v Aberdeen Package - Kenny Henderson
Padraig Harrington signed 2008 Open Flag - Phil Mckenzie
Aberdeen EC Match Package for six - Alex McKenzie
Manchester United ‘Midnight in Moscow’ Portrait - Gordon H Nicoll
Watercolour Paintings - Charles Reynolds
Culter BB Mini Pipe Band Performance - James Fraser
Week’s accommodation in Marbella Villa - Phil McKenzie
John Higgins Snooker Match - Doug Mime
Culter FC Match Hospitality Package for six - Eddie Morrison
Culter FC Match Hospitality Package for six - John M Murphy
Lionel Messi signed Shirt/Photo - Chris Collie
Manchester United Match Package for two - Brian Walker
Manchester United v Everton tickets - Neil Forsyth
Raffle Winners:- Golf for four at Peterculter — Andrew Mime; Meal for two at Grill
Room Glasgow — Paul McDonald; Golf Bag — Dave Thomson; Meal for four at Luigi’s’— Holiday Inn Westhill — Phil Mckenzie (originally won and donated back by Ivor
Finnie); Meal for 4 at Yan Oriental Westhill — John Fletcher; Weekend for two Holiday
Inn East Kilbride — Ian, do Dutch Mill; Golf for 4 at Newmachar — Graeme W Keith;
AFC signed football — Jason Begg; LCD Television -- Barry Ollason; Gift Voucher
£100 from Laings Inverurie — Brian Murphy; Meal for four at Palm Court — Brian
Russell; Menstyle Gift Voucher — Mark Craig; Meal for four at Menzies Hotel
Aberdeen — Gordon Mackie; Microwave — Sid Birnie; Set of Golf Clubs — Cohn
Michie; £200 Bar Voucher at The Seafield Club — Jim Stewart; Burnett & Reid’s
Corporate Golf Outing place for one person at Deeside Golf Club — Bob Davidson;
Bottle Glenmorangie Whisky — Steve Thomson; Bottles Glenlivet and Glendoyne
Whisky — Phil McKenzie; Bottles Laphroig Whisky and Wine — Arne Bjorkvoll; Bottles
Glenlivet Whisky & Port — John Murphy; Bottles Whisky & Rum — Gordon W Thomson.

Our thanks go to our same team of excellent girls Jennifer, Jenna, Margaret and Marianne, assisted by our members, who did their usual wonderful job of successfully selling our fund raising tickets. Their assistance with the Auction was also greatly appreciated.

Guest Speaker Kenny Burns, ex Birmingham City, Nottingham Forest and Scotland player entertained the audience with the story of his illustrious football career. Kenny recalled many interesting memories of the legendary Brian Clough.

Our other Guest Speaker Bryan Hector Cooney unfortunately did not live up to his billing as “jovial” journalist and after disappointing the audience he cut his talk short.
On the other hand Compere Peter Mitchell was in top form and starred throughout the evening. Peter ably conducted the Auction, pushing the bids up in his inimitable humorous style. This was Peter’s 8th time as our mischief maker extraordinaire.

Our 24th Celebrity Dinner was again a very successful fund raiser for us. We look forward to our 25th (Silver) Celebrity Dinner next year.

 

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