Roger's Party

16 February 2005

Gilly Dixon- Spain decided to celebrate her husband Roger’s 60^th birthday by inviting the entire island to a party in the hall.

It was a great night in every way  particularly as we were dancing  to the excellent Bella McNab Band who, though based in Edinburgh, have deep Lismore roots through fiddle player Mairi Campbell and husband, guitarist David Francis, who compered the evening giving excellent dance instructions for the novices. Derek Hoy on fiddle, Fiona More on piano and bassist John Young completed the line up.

Roger and Gilly live at Salen and the celebrations started in the afternoon when Angus Nicholson’s piping echoed around the old port bouncing off the disused limestone quarry workings and entertaining the Highland cattle Roger is now raising. Angus also piped in the cake Maureen Crossan had made and skilfully decorated to reflect Roger’s interests in farming and wood working.

Between the lively dances, Duncan Livingstone sang two songs accompanied by Mairi Campbell on keyboard and Andrea Blumberg, an accomplished clarsach player from Philadelphia, performed exquisitely.

In thanking everyone Roger said he had never felt so welcome as he had done since moving to Lismore and that he was here to stay. He added that he had never enjoyed anything so much. Ever.