'Walking In The Air', 'Hallelujah', and 'I'm Gonna Walk' were given their first outing in public and for the most part were successful with 'I'm Gonna Walk' getting a great response from the audience. 'Morte Criste' also made a re-appearance and impressed as our finale. Soloists Walter McLaren and Ian Gray performed with their usual professionalism and the Laurel and Hardy 'Team' of Bill Grainger, Alistair Mackie, George Russell, Ian Gray, and Simon and Ian Harkness delivered another show stopping performance. The Jolly Beggars also made everyone sit up with a rousing rendering of the sea shanty 'Haul Away Joe'. Next outing is on Monday 7th December at Hope Hall in Baillieston

by Gordon Millar

There were over 20 contrasting music and drama 'acts' and too many to mention all by name but maybe special mention should go to choir 'youngsters' Simon Harkness and Jamie Millar who each sang and accompanied themselves on guitar, and an excellent solo debut for the irrepressible Danny Baxter complete with shotgun! Thanks also to the Kirkton Players who gave a real dramatic flavour to the evening and to all members and guests for supporting and participating in this growing institution. Choir President Alistair Mackie has worked tirelessly over the years to make this event such a success and he can be well pleased with what was arguably the best yet!
Well done to all who took part.

by Gordon Millar

He was an excellent all round musician and a talented photographer and his skills in both areas will be a sad miss to us all and our thoughts at this time are with his close family and friends (his son Bobby is also a member of the choir). Bob's funeral service will take place at 10.15am. on Monday 30th November, at South Lanarkshire Crematorium and members are asked to wear choir ties as a mark of our respect.

by Gordon Millar

I am sure they need no introduction to members!

by Gordon Millar

Despite the weather, the turn out for this Cancer Care fund raising event was exceptional and the choir delivered an excellent evening's entertainment with music for all tastes and a special mention must go to soloist Robert McDermott for a stunning rendition of 'I'll walk beside you'. The evening did start a little tentatively however, with a number of the choir encountering 'navigation problems' among the roundabouts but most us made it in time and we were at full strength for the second set of pieces! Satellite Navigation Systems will be necessary for the second leg of our tour at 'The West Church' East Kilbride on Monday 30th November.

by Gordon Millar

Robert and wife Janet are being looked after by choir treasurer's brother Don and his wife Dina-Marie (good luck to them both!) and Robert and Janet are currently on a cruise out of Freemantle celebrating their 53rd Wedding Anniversary! Our best wishes go out to them and we hope they have a wonderful time. Robert hopes to be back in time for the Christmas concerts and has taken his music in anticipation.

by Gordon Millar

The choir rehearse in Hamilton and have a number of Stonehouse ladies among their 60 members and they will be using the SMVC staging for this event so it is sure to be a colourful and entertaining evening. Tea and home bakes will be served at the interval.

by Gordon Millar

Afterwards, the ladies from Poland were asked if they would like to seek asylum and join Stonehouse Male Voice Choir, particularly the young dark haired soprano who took the eye of Ray Ashe. She was shown the latest choir photograph and said, "are there any young men in your choir?". Exit some deflated Stonehouse choristers.

by Gordon Millar

The stone enhanced acoustics of the old building showed the qualities of the choir and soloists who performed admirably throughout the event and there were many complimentary comments from the knowledgable audience about the standard of choral singing that they had witnessed. The varied repertoire also surprised many of the concert goers who were very impressed at how entertaining the evening had been with something to suit everyone's taste. It may not have been a 'sell-out' but the evening was very much appreciated by all who attended and a good number of CDs were sold. Next concert is Friday 20th November at Westwood Parish Church East Kilbride.

by Gordon Millar

A good sized audience gathered St Machan's Church to celebrate 10 years of the Machan Trust who organise many events throughout the year for young people in the area. They were treated to an excellent evening of Male Voice Singing with both choirs providing entertaining individual programmes and also a rousing selection of joint pieces by the combined choir of around ninety voices which all but raised the roof and sent everyone home with memories of a fantastic evening's music in aid of a worthy cause. Congratulations and thanks are due to all who took part and we hope it inspires some of the gentlemen in the audience to become actively involved in singing with a choir in their own area. The next outing for Stonehouse MVC is on Friday 9th October in Biggaras providing a pre-festival concert for the Biggar Little Festival which begins next week.

by Gordon Millar

by Gordon Millar

by Gordon Millar

This was an unusual event for us as we were scheduled to start at 8.45pm after the formalities were over and deliver a short programme for 45 minutes. As it turned out, it was nearer 9.15pm before the choir took the stage and despite a 'challenging acoustic' and late call-offs, the choir performed very well and was very well appreciated by a knowledgable and distinguished audience. Our next public performance is on Monday 5th Oct in Larkhall with Hamilton Caley Choir followed by our 'debut' performance at the 'Little Biggar Festival' on Friday 9th October.

by Gordon Millar

As always, an invitation is extended to any male who enjoys singing to come along and give it a try. Existing members are reminded that the choir has an engagement this Friday evening in the Banqueting Suite of the County Buildings, Hamilton and a full turnout of members is requested for this prestigious event.

by Gordon Millar

Thursday 20th August 2009
Father hails five-year-old son as 999 call hero.

A FIVE-YEAR-OLD boy was hailed a hero last night after springing into action to save his dad, who had collapsed in the garden.

Quick-thinking Logan Ashe failed to panic after spotting his father Alan (35) slumped unconscious.

Dad Alan was cutting the grass when he became unwell and collapsed, smashing his head against a garage wall.

Brave Logan tried to wake him up after spotting him out cold at their home in Carluke, Lanarkshire.

But after several failed attempts he rushed to the phone and dialled 999, talking operators through what happened and directing them to their home.

Paramedics quickly arrived and roused a groggy Alan, who had no recollection of his fall.

Logan, who started Carluke Primary School this week, admitted he knew what to do after remembering being taught how to deal with emergencies at nursery.

Last night he was hailed a hero by dad Alan and mum Lorna.

Alan said, "I had had an extremely long day at work and wasn't feeling great but decided to cut the grass anyway.

"That's all I can really remember. I don't remember feeling ill before I collapsed or actually collapsing. It just came over me so quickly.

"It was such a shock to wake up with the police and paramedics all around me.

"They asked if I was OK and told me that I had fallen and banged my head against the garage.

"That's when I found out Logan had called them by himself. I couldn't believe it as it must have been a scary sight seeing his dad lying there unconscious.

"We are very proud of him. He is a real wee hero."

Hero Logan added, "I just remember trying to wake dad up and I couldn't.

"I was scared a little bit but I remembered what to do in nursery and phoned 999.

"I told them what had hap¬pened and told the ambulance where to come.

"The police came first, then the ambulance, who managed to wake my dad."

Alan first came to when paramedics arrived and he was taken to nearby Wishaw General Hospital for checks. He was discharged later that evening.

Both police and paramedics who attended the call were impressed by Logan's ability to stay calm and call for help.

Mum Lorna, a part-time fitness instructor, said, "For a young boy he is very confident and is always answering the phone in our house.

"But when my sister came to get me and said it was Logan who had phoned 999 I couldn't believe it.
"He must have learned to do that at nursery school. It's amazing he remembered what to do and have kept calm."

A spokesman for Strathclyde Police praised Logan's quick thinking.

by Gordon Millar

Fiona stood in for Pam at very short notice at our concert in Coatbridge and also went on to share accompanying duties on our new CD and at last session's Annual Concerts. Stonehouse Male Voice Choir offer its congratulations and best wishes to the couple for the big day and hope they enjoy a long and happy life together.

by Gordon Millar

by Gordon Millar

During the recent visit to Clydesdale of members of the Twinning Organisations of Yvetot in Normandy and Hemmingen in Germany, the Jolly Beggars or Jolly B's provided and evening of entertainmentin St Andrew's Church halls.

Choir members participating under Musical Director George Russell were David Bryden, Ray Ashe,
Bob Paterson, John Hamilton, Alistair Mackie and Jim Meikle. The Group performed a number of
songs and led the community singing. The guests were hugely impressed when The Jolly Beggars
sang both in French and in German! The Deputy Mayor from Hemmingen and a Councillor from Yvetot were persuaded to take partin a fast moving gospel song much appreciated by the large audience.

by Gordon Millar

The church members and invited guests will have a dinner with formalities and speeches from 7pm - 8.40pm and the choir will give a 45 minute concert from 8.45pm - 9.30pm. The choir are asked to arrive at the Committee Room in the County Buildings at 8pm where refreshments will be provided prior to the 45 minute performance. It is an honour to be asked to participate at such an occassion and our performance will probably consist of 3 sets of 3 pieces and two solo/group items, and will be representative of some of the best pieces from our CD. It is an ideal type of event to start our season and the evening should end at the normal time - the only difference is that the refreshments will be before the performance instead of afterwards. Please pass on these details to any members you may be in contact with. Programme will be decided at our first meeting on Tuesday 1st September. Don't miss it!

by Gordon Millar

Around 40 members turned out to join Cathy's family and a large congregation at St Ninians Parish Church, Stonehouse for the memorial service. The choir sang 'The Battle Hymn Of The Republic' (which was a favourite of Cathy's) during the service and then gave a rousing performance of 'Cwm Rhondda' at the end. A large cortege of vehicles then headed to the South Lanarkshire Crematorium for a short committal ceremony and Cathy would have been proud to hear 'How Great Thou Art' sung with such passion by all present. There followed a social gathering at the Shawlands Hotel with family and friends and it was good to see Dickson (who sang with the choir) and Joan Gemmell again after there move to Fife. Cathy's family were delighted and moved by auch a large turnout of choir members and have asked us to thank you all for your support both in visiting Cathy during her illness and in coming along and singing so well today.

by Gordon Millar