Booked for Scottish Annual Dinner and Awards for Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment at The George Hotel Edinburgh on 8 Sept. Fab setting.

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Fred MacAulay (BBC Scotland) was the keynote speaker at the gala dinner at the Signet Libraray in Edinburgh during the annual conference for the British Universities Finance Directors Group (BUFDG).

Err… dead pan funny as ever. I only intended  to get a few shots at the start of Fred’s piece but found that I would have advertised my departure right in the middle of the 230 guests and of his delivery.  A sure target to be picked on!!

Craig Stevenson wins lifetime achievement award at the Hospitality Industry Awards dinner in Glasgow on 18 March at  the Radisson Blu Hotel Glasgow.

I was the photographer for the 2nd year at this glamorous event in Glasgow and took PR photographs that were required for immediate press release the next morning. Craig was a great subject and seeing a plate of bright green apples started to juggle with them.

From a series of several shots, this one below stood out for me. It was used in this article.

Umm…   I said ‘JUMP ‘ and, well, jump they did!

Cool – a hotel General Manager, a Director of a premier Scottish catering company, a hospitality consultant, the MD of a top events company, the PA of a chain of boutique hotels, the Editor of a Scottish catering magazine, top PR company MD, all managed on my command to hit the air at the same time. Took two shots – and they had barely had time to have a drink before the evening started.

I was covering the HIT Dinner in Glasgow for the second year - 18 March 2010.

Following later, after their AGM, the National Access and Scaffolding Confederation held their annual dinner dance at the 5 star Sheraton Grand Hotel and Spa in Edinburgh.

King Robert the Bruce greets the NASC President and his wife

With King Robert the Bruce in attendance to greet guests at The President’s Reception it was a right ‘royal’ occasion. Haggis, Piper, a comedian, a dance band and disco were all laid on for guests.

Glamourous 'scaffolders' wives ready to party!

Comedian Terry Alderton

The brief was for posed photos of couple arriving for the President’s Reception (I used two brollies with Speedlights) and candid and informal group shots for the evening.

I received a lovely letter from Jean Hotchkis following their celebrations at Edinburgh’s 5 star Caledonian Hotel for which I was delighted to be asked to take photos for the evening.

“16 March 2009. Dear Simon, My husband and I would like to thank you so much for all the effort you put into the photography for our diamond wedding celebration. The results are excellent and will contribute a great deal to our memories of a very happy event. Yours sincerely, Jean Hotchkis.”

About 50 family members of all ages and from the UK and abroad joined to celebrate. I was asked to take family group shots and cross family generation shots, as well as the whole group on the hotel’s grand staircase.

A great night which I enjoyed covering.

 Funny where life takes you. I had worked at the Caledonian Hotel many many years previously as Personnel Manager and then Conference and Banqueting Manager in the good old days of British Transport Hotels when Donald McLeod was the General Manager.