Believe it or Not!

It’s four years this month since the Liam Colgan Music Fund officially launched!  Emerging from the world of lockdown back in October 2020, the launch was marked by the release of a charity single and CD donated by local band Twisted Blues. The drummer in that band was Iain Clark, and he has played an active, some say pivotal, role in establishing LCMF as one of the most dynamic youth music charities in the North of Scotland.

The Fund's Chairperson Steps Down

After four years, first as the Fund’s secretary and then chairperson, Iain recently announced he is stepping down from the Fund saying, "It's been an honour and a pleasure to have worked for the Fund, but it's now time to pass the reins to others to take the Fund into the next stage in its development.".His retirement marks a new chapter for the Fund.   

Looking back, I first met Iain almost 40 years ago when he set up the first community business in the Highlands, and I was one of its external auditors. Iain had originally been a teacher before becoming a successful rock drummer. He later held senior management posts in the public, voluntary, and private sectors, acquiring a wealth of experience setting up and managing organisations and charities, as well as his own IT research and development company.

Over the years, we kept in touch, and after my son Liam’s tragic passing, Iain and his Twisted Blues bandmates generously offered to help raise funds in his memory by donating an album they had recorded in New Orleans. Iain, with his knowledge and experience, volunteered to help set up the Liam Colgan Music Fund, becoming one of the co-founders of the charity.

From the outset, as the Fund's first secretary, Iain's approach was exemplified by his professionalism, drive, and passion for the mission of developing support programmes for young musicians and others keen to get into music.  

Our Early Work

We forged links with the University of the Highlands and Islands, where Liam obtained his degree, and created two annual awards for music students. We organised online workshops for young songwriters, surveyed young Highlands-based musicians on where funds would be best spent, created awards for young musicians and songwriters, and sponsored a local music festival stage to showcase the finalists. We also set up a ‘Friends of the Liam Colgan Music Fund group which now numbers over 300 people and raised around £20K from fund-raising, CD sales, donations and Gift Aid. 

An unexpected validation of our work was receiving a donation from the BRIT Trust, the first ever by the UK music industry to a charity in the North of Scotland. These funds were used to forge a partnership of funders to pilot an innovative training workshop Iain had begun to formulate with others, for young people interested in the technical side of music.

'Setting the Stage' Live Event Training Workshops

The workshops' concept was to bring together local live event production professionals in sound, lighting, stage crew, event management, etc., with three experienced live bands to create an environment for trainee technicians to get hands-on experience working with professionals in a real-world setting.

Iain’s achievements over the past four years have been many, but in my personal opinion, all were overshadowed by the resounding success of the innovative “Setting the Stage” Live Event Production training workshops. The first workshop was held in June ‘23 and the second in March this year. 

If Iain wanted a legacy, he could not have chosen better than these training workshops, widely considered a pioneer of its kind in Scotland. Iain was the driving force, liaising with funders and pulling all the various aspects together. Seeing the young trainees' intense and spellbound faces and the pride of the crew of tutors was quite humbling, as was reading the formal reviews by all participants.  

The Next Chapter

Although he was Chair of the Fund, in many ways, Iain was also the de facto chief executive, working tirelessly and boldly entering where others hesitated! Those who have worked with him have highlighted his dedication and commitment and we wish him well in his retirement, recognising he will be a hard act to follow. 

The good news is that he is not disappearing altogether and will still be available to the Fund if called upon, albeit in an advisory capacity.

As the saying goes, as one door closes, another opens!

Paul Dzialdowski, who has been a trustee of the Fund since 2022, is taking over as Chair. Paul’s background as a senior manager in the public sector, an accomplished fiddle player, supervisor and tutor with Feis Rois and a member of Rhymn’n’Reel, one of the Highlands’ finest Celtic bands, plus his extensive contacts across the Highlands’ music scene will stand him in good stead in his new role.

We are also delighted to welcome two new trustees who have recently joined our Board:

Marlene Stewart   Marlene has extensive experience as an administrator and then Education Officer with the Highland Council. After retiring, she trained and worked as an adviser with the Citizens Advice Bureau. More recently, she served for three years as a Board member on the Nationwide (Building Society) Community Board for Scotland.

Stuart MacLennan   Stuart is an experienced IT professional working as a computer security specialist with a major IT services company, bringing not just valuable IT skills but a fresh perspective (due to being some 30+ years younger than some of us).

Immediate Plans

The Fund will go through a transition period as new trustees find their feet and the Board prepares plans for the next chapter of the Fund’s work.  Continuing with the ‘Setting the Stage’ training workshops remains a high priority, with the next scheduled for March 2025.

In the meantime, our annual Quiz Night, which has become a feature in the Fund’s calendar, is taking place on Friday 15th November 2024 at the Highland Rugby Club in Inverness.  These are always great fun, and all the money raised goes to help fund our activities. If you live in the arae and are interested in entering or joining a team, simply email lcmfquizinfo@gmail.com for more information or click this : LCMF Quiz Night Registration 

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Thnaks for reading. Watch this space for more news! 
 

Brian Colgan
for the Liam Colgan Music Fund

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