Gus Neilson: Kenny Spiers - Folk Music

There was almost a full turn out of members at last Thursday’s meeting when President Mairhi Trickett welcomed local singer /entertainer Kenny Speirs as the night’s guest speaker.

Kenny has been a well-known figure on the local, national and international folk circuit for over twenty five years. He began his musical career initially as a guitarist with the John Wright Band, with whom he released seven albums.

In 1996 Kenny took the brave step of giving up a secure career in teaching and becoming a full-time professional musician. In 2002 he moved on to form his band “Reel Time” with Judy Dinning and toured extensively all over Europe and also in the USA.

Since Judy’s untimely passing in 2013, Kenny has continued “Reel Time” and has recently been inspired to release his excellent solo CD of wholly self-penned songs “Sleepwalking”.

During his interesting talk on his career, Kenny entertained the company with three of his songs from this album - “My Borderland”, the title song “Sleepwalking” and “I Don’t Need Anything More”.

The Vote of Thanks was given by Gus Neilson.

The Hawick Club entered two teams in Selkirk Rotary Club’s Charity Quiz Night last Friday when “The Teri Pessimists” team comprising Elsa and Gus Neilson, Linden Warburton and Ron Sutherland came first out of 18 teams. The Club’s other team – “The Teri Optimists” finished a creditable third.

Hawick Rotary Club in association with the High School have arranged this week, for a “Young Rotary Chef” competition in the school when 12 hopeful pupils will exhibit their culinary skills. The top two young chefs will go forward to the next round. The Club are extremely grateful to Sainsbury’s for sponsoring the event by donating all the ingredients on the night.

A large group of members and their wives accompanied President Mairhi Trickett to Aberdeen at the weekend to attend the District Conference.