 'The fund raising concert/ceilidh/auction held on Friday 4 March 2011 at the Commodore Hotel, Helensburgh, was a great success and raised almost £600. Entertainment was provided by Jodie Waide, singing her winning song from Helensburgh's got Talent 2010, Helensburgh & District Pipe Band with a stirring mixture of marches and slow airs, the Margaret Rose School of Dance highland dancers who gave an excellent performance which included the Highland Fling, Sword Dance and Reel plus Hell for Leather with their unique mixture of foot tapping Folk, Ceilidh and Rock music that had dancers on the floor for every dance.
Thank you to all the artistes, Eric Wallace MC, Robert Paterson - Manager, Commodore Hotel and all those who so generously donated prizes and supported the event. 
Our next fund raising event was a bag pack at the Co-op in Helensburgh on Sunday 7 June 2011 from which we raised £400. A special thanks to all who helped our committee members on the day including members of the Helensburgh & District Pipe Band and the Margaret Rose School of Dance. Thanks too to the Co-op staff and the public for their patience and generosity.
 On 27 May we received a much needed boost to our funds from Awards for All Scotland when we gained a lottery grant of £9,700 - a very prestigous honour indeed. This will go towards purchasing much needed equipment and hopefully help ensure the future of the event so that we may continue promoting Scottish traditional music and dance to an ever increasing audience.
On Sunday 19 June 2011 we held the 10th Anniversary Bicentenary Pipe Band Championships with a higher number of entries and performances than ever before. Over 500 pipers and drummers from 18 pipe bands gave almost 30 performances at Hermitage Park competing for over 30 trophies and many other prizes. At Victoria Halls over 100 highland dancers competed for a vast array of trophies and medals throughout the day. The opening parade was once again led by the Chieftain and Chairperson with Sir Malcolm Colquhoun officially opening the event. The spectacular closing parade marched down Sinclair Street with 300 pipers and drummers and the winning highland dancers with their trophies - all wearing their special 10th Anniversary medals, watched by the biggest ever crowd - the perfect end to a perfect day once again!
 The committee wish to thank, most sincerely, all those who supported the event in whatever way - ie. the competitors, officials, judges, stewards, volunteers, Army Cadets, Argyll Volunteers, Rosneath Highland Games Committee members, Victoria Halls staff, the Park Keeper, Co-op Funeralcare, Rosslea Hotel, Logie Baird, the Community Advertiser, Helensburgh Advertiser, the police, Security, St Andrews First Aid, Helensburgh & District Pipe Band and our chieftain, Sir Malcolm Colquhoun'. A special thank you also to Argyll & Bute Council for their generous support and a grant of £4,000. |
