Richard Lyle MSP, Member for Uddingston & Bellshill, hosted a Reception at Holyrood on behalf of the Showmen’s Guild of Great Britain on January 14.
Attending were Guild President Philip Paris and Central Council delegates, along with Scottish Section Chairman Alex James Colquhoun and the Section Committee.
The Reception took place the evening before the two-day Central Council meeting, which was held for the first time in Edinburgh this year instead of London.
It followed a Holyrood debate in the Scottish Parliament on the work of the Showmen’s Guild. Central Office officials and Central Council delegates were in the gallery to hear the debate.
The Reception was well-attended by MSPs and council officials from across Scotland, along with other dignitaries including representatives of the Freemen of Newcastle upon Tyne led by Sir Leonard Fenwick.
Scottish showman Preston Irvin had on display some of his working fairground models.
Richard Lyle MSP, who is sponsoring a Bill in the Scottish Parliament to reform the onerous licensing regulations that has plagued the fairground industry in Scotland for many years, led the speeches.
Ash Denham MSP, Minister for Community Safety presented Certificates of Appreciation on behalf of the Scottish Section to members of the Parliamentary Cross-Party Group for the Scottish Showmen’s Guild, as well as to Christina McKelvie MSP, Minister for Older People and Equalities.
The Minister herself also was also presented with a Certificate of Appreciation, as was event host and Convenor of the Cross-Party Group, Richard Lyle MSP.
Photos: Desmond FitzGerald
Photo 1: Guild Past President David Wallis with Lawrence Bishton and Colin Pawley of the Notts & Derby Section at the Holyrood Reception.
Photo 2: Reception host Richard Lyle MSP with Guild Central Office officials and Section Chairmen attending the event.
Photo 3: Western Section delegate Steven Hill chats with Jim Johnson from the Stewards Committee of the Freemen of Newcastle upon Tyne at the Holyrood Reception.
Photo 4: Western Section Chairman Tommy Charles (right) with Perry Day from the Eastern Counties Section at the Holyrood Reception.
