Adoption meeting, Dunoon

This was the night of my formal "adoption meeting" for Argyll & Bute - traditionally it was the occasion on which the constituency formally confirmed their choice of candidate. But nowadays it is more of a fundraising event, and my good friends Aly Bain and Phil Cunningham very kindly agreed to peform, along with the Cowal Pipe Band, Iain Thomson , the "Singing Shepherd" from Mull, Rona Wilkie and her Norwegian partner and Drums and Roses . Iain Anderson was the incomparable compere and the whole thing was wonderfully put together by my campaign manager, Cllr Ron Simon. The political speeches were from Roseanna Cunningham, the Environment Minister and one of my closest friends, and me - but they were short and to the point ! All in all it was a great night, which went on into the wee small hours back at home in Glendaruel. Thanks to everyone who contributed and to the full house audience at the Burgh Hall, whose volunteer staff - along with SNP Branch members from Dunoon, the Holy Loch and Strachur - made it all go so well. I am now well and truly adopted.