People

The aforementioned motley crew in Stornoway after a very successful Royal National Mod 2005

L to R
Back - Paddy Shaw, John MacFarlane, Martin Charlton, Donald Harrison, Jason Davies, Alisdair Barnett, Davy Paterson, Simon Hannigan, Peter Henderson, Jamie Houston

Front - Dixie Porter, Helen Pearson, Flora Winter, Mary Stone, Evelyn Campbell. Rita Gow, Ann Barlow, Sheena McTighe, Joy Dunlop, Janice Kay, Conductor - Joy McAllister, Alison Dawson, June Raven, Dondy Henderson, Audrey Paterson, Toni Russell.

Marked absent - Archie Lamont, Neill Macnab, Islay Macnab, Carol Thomson

Photo - Don McAllister

THE GAFFERS

Conductor, Ann Barlow has recently taken over from Joy McAllister. Ann formerly sang soprano with the choir and is well known locally as a music teacher. She is energetic , enthusiastic and also a superb fiddler who can be heard on the band tracks of the choir CD, 'Fo Sgàil Beinn Cruachan.

Choir President, Sheena McTighe, is a keen Gaelic learner who had never sung in Gaelic until she joined the choir in 1997 but has now been well and truly bitten by the singing bug. She works tirelessly for the choir and has been a truly dynamic President. No doubt, she has inspired her daughter, Mairi, who is about to embark on a BMus.

Photo courtesy of Euan Paterson, Oban Times

	Photo courtesy of Euan Paterson, Oban Times	Gaelic tutor, Joy Dunlop, hails from Connel. Joy is a fluent learner of Gaelic and studied for her Honours degree at the Gaelic College in Skye, Sabhal Mor Ostaig. She is a self-confessed 'slave to the Gaelic cause'. A real live wire, Joy is presently on temporary loan to Mabou, Cape Breton, where she is helping to promote Gaelic.		Photo courtesy of LochVisions	Vice-President, John MacFarlane, is a native Gaelic speaker from the Isle of Mull. In a former life, he was a Brigadier and a leading light in the army school of languages. John speaks seven languages and is an authority on the history of the Taynuilt area. He is also very involved in Gaelic broadcasting and is often to be heard on BBC radio and television.
			Choir Treasurer, June Raven hails from south of the border but has taken to Gaelic singing like the proverbial duck. A stalwart of the alto section and outstanding treasurer, her firm grip on the purse strings curbs the more outrageous excesses of the choir - well, someone has to!	Photo courtesy of LochVisions
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Choir Secretary, Audrey MacLeod Paterson, is a Gaelic learner, although her father was a native Gaelic speaker from the island of Raasay. She is a member of the choir quartet, as is her husband David (standing with glass of Lagavulin 16 yr old, back row, Picture 2) and they both sing solos at ceilidhs and concerts. Daughter Rowan is following in their footsteps, singing in Oban High School choir and playing the keyboards, guitar and clarsach. Audrey was the winner of the Ladies' Silver Pendant, the top solo prize for adult learners, at the 100th Royal National Mod in Oban 2003.			Photo courtesy of Euan Paterson, Oban Times


Picture 2 - taking a well-earned break from our hectic rehearsal in the congenial surroundings of the Taynuilt Hotel

From left to right:- Archie Lamont (Tenor), Basses Neill Macnab and Davy Paterson hold aloft conductor, Joy McAllister, Choir President Sheena McTighe (alto), Choir Secretary Audrey Paterson (alto) and looking on in disbelief, choir logistics expert, Donald Harrison (tenor).	Great celebrations after the choir won third place in the Sheriff McMaster Campbell Quaich competition for rural choirs at the Royal National Mod in Skye & Lochalsh 1997 - our first ever placing at the National Mod.