Strathleven Artizans were asked by the organisers of the Scottish Caseta, Tom McDaid and Leslie Thomson to put together the performers and dancers once again to represent Scotland at the Feria International de los Pueblos in Fuengirola Spain.

We put together a mix of different style’s of act’s. We had in our party Clanadonia a tribal style Celtic band from Glasgow who to their great credit stood in at short notice for the advertised band Clann an Drumma who had to withdraw because their leader Joe Kilna was terminally ill with cancer and sadly passed away the day before the event got under way.
Our thoughts and deepest sympathy go to his wife Maggie and family and also the guys in the band.

Clanadonia certainly know how to work a crowd they had the caseta jumping through out the day and night and what a great bunch of guys too with a few characters among them, we would like to thank them very much for all their hard work over the week end, “you did Scotland proud lads well done”.

Also appearing for the first time was our very own Ted Christopher who played non stop it would scheme from his voice which was almost gone, he managed to his credit put in a extra day work on the Sunday which was supposed to be a day off but Ted soldiered on and did two slots in the afternoon so well done and thank you.

We had Celtic Storm Dancers, who danced their feet off from the moment they got to the caseta from our hotel, I lost count of how many dances they danced but they were well knackered come Sunday night.
Piping for the Storm was Philip Barlow (King’s Piper) of Strathleven Artizans who once again answered the call to pipe for his country and was at his usual best, we know you are busy with university and work, so a big Thanks from the Artizans for making it over once again bro.
A special thanks to Brad from Clanadonia for piping for the girls on the Thursday night.

We had in our party Eric & Liz Ramsay (Carvel textiles) highland wear makers who had a stall with their wares of kilts, sporrans, waist coats etc thank you both for a great week end we all loved your company and had a good laugh etc.

Big thanks to Duncan, JP and Lynn for the work they put in over the week end thanks guys.

Summery………This was the first year that there has been a Scottish Caseta the previous ones have been UK caseta and so there was a good few teething problems with the Caseta’s organisers regarding our party which we where not happy about but we managed to sort most of them out.

But upon leaving on the Monday morning with the band and dancers plus Ted and Philip with all their equipment i.e. drums, guitar and pipes etc being told it’s only a euro on the train and to make their own way to the airport was not on, not after the amount of work those guys put in over the 4 days they deserved better.

Thankfully a knight in shining armour came to the rescue step forward Mr Leslie Thomson who took the drums and a member of the band to the airport while the rest of them got the train to the airport so a big thanks to you Leslie.

Our stay at the Fuengirola Park hotel was a pleasant one, a cracking big hotel with all amenities and nice staff, Thanks to all.

Despite the problems on the last day we all had a great time made new friendships which will last a lifetime, had a few beers, great food and the weather was magic sunshine all the way.

Thanks to all who came along…….Arlene, Jennifer, Ashley, Ashlyn, Christine, Eric, Liz, Lynn, Tu Bardh, Robbie, Jamie, Brad, Wayne, Craig, Alex, Duncan, JP, Ted, Philip and Jim.

“YOU DID SCOTLAND PROUD”

PS “By the way Mr McDaid it’s €1.45 on the train”.  Cheers

Report by Jim Tannock
Strathleven Artizans