Magnificent response to charity night

Jun 12 2008 by Gary Fanning, Hamilton Advertiser

A SECOND charity night in memory of tragic teenager Nicholas Connolly has raised a whopping £1400.

Nicholas (15), of Wellbrae Road, Fairhill, died at Hairmyres Hospital, East Kilbride, in February.

The fourth-year Hamilton Grammar pupil was taken there after he had been found, by two police officers, at a bridge in the Woodhead area of Hamilton.

About 150 people attended the fund-raising fun night for Nicholas in Low Waters Miners’ Welfare on May 20.

Nicholas’s parents John and Mary went along to the cabaret night.

A number of top Lanarkshire comedians, singers and entertainers attended the fund-raising evening.

In April, kind-hearted regulars at the Windsor Bar decided to hold a benefit night as a tribute to the teenager.

A magnificent £850 was raised during a sing-along fund-raiser at the Castle Street bar.

Raffles, an auction and fantastic prizes raised £640 on the night.

A further £210 was raised during a charity football match on Easter Sunday at the Jock Stein football pitches, Hillhouse Road, Hillhouse.

James Drummond, owner of the Windsor Bar, organised both events.

He said: “It was a fantastic achievement to raise £1400.

“It was a good night and we were helped out by some comedians.

“We have in the pipeline another charity night for our social convener Robert Watson, who was in his 60s when he died about six or seven months ago. We are going to have an inter-club singing competition and are hoping to arrange it soon.”

Meanwhile, an oil painting to be raffled in aid of Hamilton Volunteer Group is being displayed in the Windsor Bar until the end of June. Raffle tickets cost £1 and are available from the bar.

After leaving the Windsor Bar, the painting will then be displayed at Hamilton Volunteer Group until the end of July when the raffle is drawn at Chatelherault Country Park in August.