AROUND 100 people were in the Town House, Inverness on the evening of 9th March to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the founding of Merkinch Community Centre.

Piping in the top table party were Merkinch’s own pipers Tommy Cameron and Blair Anderson with the tune specially composed for the occasion.

Rev Norman Macrae, minister of the Trinity Church Huntly Place, said grace before the company enjoyed a splendid three-course meal.

Provost Bill Smith told those assembled what a remarkable achievement it was to have set up and run the Centre for 25 years and said how delighted he was to welcome members of the Centre Association and those associated with the Centre to this event.

He commented on the tremendous progress that had been made with the creation of various clubs serving all age groups from schoolchildren and young parents to mature active adults and pensioners.
The Provost praised the sterling work done by the area’s councillors, most recently that of Peter Corbett. He finished by wishing the Centre well over the next 25 years.

Chairman of the MCC Association Ann McCreadie thanked the Provost and the Inverness Area of Highland Region for hosting the event.

She reported that the Centre had received funding from the Social Work committee for the next year and went on to thank everyone for all their work and support over the years that had made the Centre such a success.

After regretting that the late Morag Soane, an MCCA director, could not have been present to share the evening, she went on to declare, “Without the Skinner family we wouldn’t be here tonight.”

The late Councillor Mabel Skinner - a driving force behind the establishment of the Centre - officially opened the Centre in 1977 and her husband Tom was a top table guest at the Civic Dinner.
Throughout the evening Sheila Bruce played a medley of favourite tunes on the piano.

Pictured above, from left: Youngest member of the MCCA management committee Carla Rae, Tom Skinner, Ann McCreadie and Provost William Smith. More pictures further on.