Loads of fun as park is invaded

Members of the Elgin-based Die Hard Gunners (from left) Rebecca McLean, Moira Harvey and Gail Taylor

A TURNOUT of thousands showed their strength in numbers for British troops last weekend, during a huge charity fun day at Elgin’s Cooper Park.

More than £25,000 was raised from the event, which will be handed to the Troop Aid charity to help the group build new offices and allow it to provide even greater support to members of the UK military returning from war.

Event organiser Kate Fraser said the crowd was even larger than expected, with more than 5,000 people coming and going during the course of the 12-hour event.

However, she admitted the sun-bathed extravaganza fell short of its ambitious £100,000 target, largely due to tickets for a raffle – which had a new car as its top prize – not selling as well as expected.

“The turnout was fantastic. We definitely had more than 5,000 people during the course of the day, and overall I am very happy. We raised £25,000 and there is still a little bit more to come,” she said.

“There’s a small group of people who are going to continue fund-raising. We are going to keep going until we get to the £100,000. We will get there.”

Mrs Fraser also said she may look at organising further fund-raisers in Cooper Park in the future, for different charities.

“It’s a great facility, but the park is not really used that much,” she said. “I have been asked by several people already, so we will definitely look at putting something on again.”

Mrs Fraser’s nephew, Robert, was helped by Troop Aid last year when he returned home injured after serving in Afghanistan. Robert’s father, Ian, spoke on stage during the event, describing Troop Aid as a “phenomenal” charity.

“Trust me, every single pound you donate is absolutely cherished by our soldiers,” he said. “I want to say a massive thank you for turning up and supporting this charity.”

Also speaking was Tony Rook, chairman of the Lossiemouth Business Association. He highlighted that the Troop Aid event was being held during the same week as the closure-threatened RAF Lossiemouth was celebrating its 72nd anniversary.

Mr Rook presented a £100 cheque to Troop Aid, on behalf of the business association, and also a birthday cake which was paid for by the Moray Task Force.

Troop Aid was founded in the West Midlands in 2006 by three ex-servicemen. The charity provides troops with the basic essentials they need immediately after returning from war.

Troop Aid chairman Al Sutton said the donations to the charity were hugely appreciated. “We want to thank Kate Fraser and all of the helpers. And we want to thank you, the people of Elgin, for turning up to support this charity,” he said.

“We supply to the injured, who are returning home from Afghanistan, three days of toiletries because their personal belongings are left in the desert.”

Buckie Pipe Band got the fun day under way at 10am.

Over on the main stage, the crowds were entertained by the Jack ‘n’ Jill Nursery, the Moray Diamond Line Dancers, St Gerardine Primary School, and Skip 2 The Beat. There was also pole dancing and gymnastics demonstrations during the course of the afternoon.

Other activities included a funfair, barbecue, bouncy castle, kids’ quad bikes, motorbikes, laser tag, living history displays by the Desert Rats display team and the Die Hard Gunners, and water walkers from the East Grange Loft.

A battle between Moray bands Third Connection, Bittersuite, The Strive and 1000 Stars took place in the evening. And after each entertaining the crowd, it was Elgin-based Third Connection that walked away with the £500 prize.

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