Singing for Pleasure Inverness on BBC1

Saturday night's BBC1 prime time TV show "Last Choir Standing" featured well loved local group Singing for Pleasure.  Inverness City was highlighted with a lovely shot of the river, followed by the group doing a show at the Mckenzie Day Centre.  A short clip of the group singing "Que sera sera"  showed off their skills with some simple choreography.  Leader, Elsie Normington was filmed as she received the news that they were not through to the final 15 choirs.  She thanked them for a "lovely opportunity".  Well done to Singing for Pleasure for reaching the last 27 choirs out of hundreds of applications! Click here to watch the Video! (.wmv file 6Mb)

The Centre had TV specially installed for the occasion and they came together to watch the show on the big screen. 

CVS convenes their AGM in the McCreadie Suite 

 
The  Inverness Council for Voluntary Organisations had their first AGM at the McCreadie Suite in Merkinch Community Centre on Tuesday 24th June 2008.  The event saw approximately 50 people in attendance from a wide range of voluntary organisations across Inverness.  Five local organisations shared about their work which has extensive impacts not only in the lives of local people but affecting people and communities across the Highlands.

Pictured here is Anne Angus, Chief Executive Officer said

"Thanks for all your help today   and thanks for to your staff for being so flexible and helpful.

Merkinch Community Centre was an ideal venue for our AGM"

The AGM guests were welcomed by the enthusiastic FALCON Drummers 

June Jamboree hits high notes again!

The annual June Jamboree was packed to capacity once again on Tuesday night 24th June 2008 filling the atmosphere with lots of singing, dancing and 'doing turns'.  Singing for Pleasure  set the scene starting off with "Everywhere we go people always ask us"  and the crowd raised the roof with enthusiastic singing.  This was followed by the FALCON drummers playing their infectious percussive sounds and the floor filled with dancers. Click here to see a short video.  Elsie Normington led the evening's fun with a mixture of sing along songs, drumming, favourite dance music such as the Conga, Rock Around the Clock and YMCA and some of the folks also took the floor and performed a song or dance. There were 27 Romanian young people also joined in the event who were on a visit to Invernesss.

McDougall and Hastie provided the usual high standard of barbeque which provided sustenance the whole night. All ages joined in and as usual created that feeling of 'community family'. A great night had by all.

Common Threads celebrate new banners

The international sewing group run by the WEA celebrated two new banners which were sewn by the group.  The group  meet every Tuesday morning in the Merkinch Community Centre and enjoy friendship and craft together.  Elsie Normington commissioned the piece of work with local Community Warden Claire Richardson, who arranged the design of the banners and each one encapsulated all the different groups which are part of the Community Centre. The launch event was held on Tuesday 17th June and featured in the local Inverness Courier.

Merkinch are planning their biggest Christmas yet! 

Merkinch Community Centre have joined forces with all local projects to plan the biggest Christmas parade that Merkinch has ever experienced.  To date reindeers have been booked and plans are afoot for a large marquee, rides, bouncy castle and a wide variety of stalls. Traders and local groups are being encouraged to get involved, book their stall, sell their wares and generate income for their own organisation. It promises to be a great afternoon out for all ages.  Anyone wishing to book a stall or require more information contact: Elsie Normington elsie.merkinch@uwclub.net