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Convention. Dot and Doreen and the printers worked through the night to achieve this! The Grand Finale was the Gala Dinner at Stirling Castle. This followed many meetings with Historic Scotland, who sponsored the venue, and their staff and caterers, due to the varied dietary requirement of the different nationalities. AILLST sponsored The Royal Burgh of Stirling Pipe Band who piped the delegates and guests in and out of the castle. A florist organised the loan of wrought iron centrepieces from Blair Castle complete with six candles for each of the tables and produced over 300 thistle corsages and buttonholes for guests which were placed on the tables at each setting with table linen and menus. Doreen said the Great Hall was lit only by candlelight making it look like an authentic mediaeval dinner.
‘It was, with all the open fires ablaze, absolutely beautiful. A frosty night with sparkling stars and the lit braziers on the way up to the Chapel Royal created the magical effect we wanted to greet our guests; one they would never forget. A wonderful drinks reception was held in the Chapel Royal accompanied by a harpist, and then guests were piped into the Great Hall, the VIP tables being asked to remain behind to be personally piped in by Stuart Cassells, a friend of Sally’s, (who later founded the Red Hot Chilli pipers).
‘Following a delicious meal, we had an indoor falconry display flying hawks and owls around the Great Hall and they had even brought along an American Bald Eagle for our guests from the USA – an amazing display sponsored again by AILLST. They also sponsored the Michael Phillips Ceilidh Band who entertained us during the meal and for dancing afterwards. We invited guests to entertain us on the Dais with their own national entertainment which several did. We all sang ‘We are the World’ and then ‘Auld Lang Syne’ before carriages at midnight.
‘We achieved what many said was impossible and we left quite a legacy! Sally and I needed a couple of stiff G&Ts before we managed to sign the largest cheque either of us had ever seen when we left Dunblane Hydro and had to pay for all the delegates’ accommodation, food and venue facilities. Luckily, we knew we had more than enough in the company bank account! When the subsidiary company was wound up afterwards, a profit of just over £8,000 was transferred to the STGA coffers. With the profits we were able to take a table at the next VisitScotland EXPO dinner and thank those who had so kindly sponsored us. We had a ceilidh for all the guides who helped make the Convention such a success. We bought furniture so badly needed in the Old Town Jail and paid for the automated booking service to be set up. The remainder was ring-fenced to be used for STGA nominated delegates to attend meetings of FEG and WFTGA.’
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