Have the SdM got talent? I'd say they have! And what a tasty smorgasbord of songs and sketches they served up for us. It would take too long to mention all the actors who were involved but clearly each and everyone of them had taken trouble to burnish their credentials. The talented players were headed by Mags Taylor with a humorous take on Maurice Chevalier's Thank Heaven and then with David a reprise of the vintage Flanders and Swann classic ”The Gasman Cometh” and I noticed many in the audience nod their heads at the appropriate local connection. Des Briggs finally managed to perform “Old Shep” and very funny it was too with Shep stealing all the laughs. Maggie Cooper, once she had clambered onto the stage gave us her very humorous “On Benefits” skit. I'd hate to be her social worker! A powerful song followed by John of The Poor Man's Band accompanied by Euan comparing Edinburgh to Glasgow.

Later in the evening, “The Tena Men” with Gary on vocals, accompanying himself on tamberine and what looked like a couple of bulls bollocks gave us the Beatles in seven minutes in his strong true voice with Danny playing a nifty guitar. Des and Barbara Briggs had the audience in fits with their piece on “Wife Maintenance”. Euan sang a very poignant Mark Knopfler song inspired by his Uncle Freddie who was a Piper in the Black Watch during WW2 and fought in Arras, Northern France. He was killed whilst playing his pipes going into an attack at the age of 20. And that was just half of the professionally performed turns in the show. Yes, yes, SdM has lots of talent. Let’s hope for more in 2020.

David Butler-Cole