Brodick Hall stalwart retires after 25 years

Brian is a familiar face to everyone on Arran - and even to visitors - and is known for going above and beyond to help at a minute’s notice whenever he can.

 

Although it was more than a quarter of a decade ago, Brian can still remember when he first heard he had secured the job at Brodick Hall.

 

He told the Banner: “I first heard that I got the job as hall keeper at Brodick Hall when I was working as a greenkeeper at Lochranza Golf Club. I was surprised to get the job as there were 83 applicants, but it has to be said many of them were from places like Ardrossan and Saltcoats.”

 

Over the years Brian has witnessed and ensured the smooth-running of thousands of events.

 

He said: “There have been so many interesting events at Brodick Hall over the years that it would take too long to mention them all but I do remember the time Billy Connolly performed in the hall and bosses from the mainland suddenly became very interested in the hall and ended up getting themselves a seat in the audience.

 

“There was also the time when Snow Patrol booked the hall for a performance but to my knowledge the police put a stop to that as it would have been too big for Arran to handle.”

 

Brodick Hall has a long history, dating back to 1892 when 80 people attended a public meeting with the intention of building a public hall in Brodick. 

 

Just a few years after that, in 1895, Brodick Hall was completed with John Stewart taking on the role of hall keeper.

 

Brian has seen many changes - although some things have remained the same.

 

Brian said: “There has been some big changes over the years in that there is no longer a cinema which used to be run by Jimmy Park.

 

"Jimmy was a previous hall keeper and used to work the old projector after setting up the old film reels.

 

"The musicals in Brodick Hall are sadly missed. Many a good show was organised by Maureen Smith, who was a relief hall keeper for several years.

 

“The recent defection by Brodick Nursery to Brodick Primary School was also a big change. They were the biggest users of the hall by some margin but it was in their best interest to relocate.

 

“Arran Pipe Band has been playing in the hall every Friday for more than 30 years. I will no longer have to turn my television’s volume up when they are rehearsing!”

 

Wyllie Hume will be taking over as hall keeper.

 

Brian said: “Wyllie and I have worked well together over the years. We have helped each other when needed and the hall is in very safe hands with Wyllie there."

 

Brian was equally praiseworthy of John Sillars. He said: “I have to give huge thanks to John Sillars who has done an incredible amount of work for the community and the hall over the years.

 

"His efforts mainly go unnoticed – from taking bookings to making sure the hall remains part of the Brodick community.”

 

Brian will be moving to Bulgaria for a while, to a place called Sunnybeach which is often compared to Blackpool, however, he will return to Scotland regularly to visit his grandson Benjamin in Glasgow and his granddaughters, Annabel and Imogen, in Brodick.