Spring concert honours Jimmy

Jun 4 2009 by Alastair McNeill, Hamilton Advertiser

THE FORMER musical director of Bothwell Philharmonic Choir, the late Jimmy Greenshields, was fondly remembered during their annual spring concert.

Jimmy, a founder member of the choir and former head of music at Uddingston Grammar, died earlier this year aged 74.

The concert at Bothwell Parish Church in his memory featured some of his musical favourites like the Love Divine by Howard Goodall and the Cantique De Jean Racine by Fauré.

And appropriately the charity which Jimmy supported, Music in Hospitals, will benefit from the cash raised during the evening.

The programme for the evening stated: “All that Jimmy Greenshields was, as a man, as a musician and as a friend, is a huge loss, but we are all the better for having known him.

“We are pleased to have Meg (his wife) and family with us this evening and we are proud to dedicate this concert to his memory.

“Some of the pieces we sing this evening were particular favourites of Jimmy’s. As we remember him and sing we will surely smile.”

The concert featured the Craigholme School Choir who sang I Will Follow You and I Have a Dream. RSAMD postgraduate student Geoffrey Tanti played piano, including a piece by Chopin, and Mark Donnelly, a long time associate of Jimmy sang Silent Worship by Handel.

The evening concluded with beautiful arrangements of Bonnie Wee Thing and Annie Laurie, and a rousing arrangement of Scots Wha Hae.