Page 67 - Microsoft Word - Guiding light final version 0839 1106.doc

‘Sally and I met two guides from the Gambia who arrived by Citylink coach carrying two very large parcels wrapped in corrugated cardboard – their national musical instruments which they donated to the Blind auction before they left, ‘ said Doreen. They were definitely not dressed for a Scottish winter and Dot came to the rescue with her sons’ clothes. They had thought they could stay in a youth hostel, but we swiftly organised them with accommodation in Dunblane Hydro. I mediated in a major political incident talking by phone with the Cyprus Foreign Minister who was insisting the Cyprus guides should leave the Conference because a Northern Cyprus guide had arrived and wanted to wear her national dress at the opening event where we had asked as many guides as possible to wear their national costumes. ‘There were many highlights in the programme: the Gaelic Primary School Choir at the opening ceremony, the Minister for Tourism arriving late – (he couldn’t find the Hotel - should’ve had a blue badge guide!!), teaching the delegates Scottish country dancing (Anne Robertson had created a new dance ‘hands across the world’ specifically for the convention), many whisky tastings, beating the Retreat by the Queen Victoria School, Burns Night with John Cairney, the actor and our own Russell Wanless as Holy Wullie! The Ceilidh and Blind Auction, the full day in Edinburgh with the bids for the next Convention heard in the Castle Gatehouse! Delegates also had a tour of Stirling and visited Dunblane Cathedral. A unique work of art, a Scottish Triptych, was commissioned from Nicky Sanderson. Many delegates had arrived with the four-day Pre-Tour, Best of England, organised with the London Blue Badge Guides, which brought them from London to Dunblane. After the Convention many delegates went on a four-day Post Tour which included Glasgow, the Highlands, Inverness, and Aberdeen. Spouses were treated to tours of St. Andrews, Andrew Carnegie & Dunfermline, Glasgow & Charles Rennie Mackintosh.
Another amazing achievement was that all delegates left on the final day with a fully bound complete set of the many lectures offered during the 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
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