Famous faces help kick-start Inverclyde festive season
SCOTLAND hero John McGinn helped kick off the festive season in Inverclyde by joining a host of famous faces for a virtual Christmas spectacular.
The Aston Villa midfielder, who last month helped fire the national side to the rescheduled Euro 2020 finals next year – the country’s first major tournament in 23 years, sent a special message to local people as part of the council’s virtual lights switch-on event on Friday evening.
His club boss Dean Smith also chipped in and wished everyone well.
McGinn, whose dad is a local secondary school teacher, said: “Just a quick message to everyone in Inverclyde on behalf of myself and the Scotland national team to make sure everyone is staying positive.
“I know it’s been a very difficult time for everyone not being able to go about your business and see your loved ones so the lucky ones down in Gourock that get taught off my dad, you’re getting to see him a lot more than me at the moment.
“But we will get through this. We all need to stick together and just be as positive and patient as possible and then when we get through the other side of this the manager might give me a few days off to come and see you.”
His boss added: “Same from me. All the best to everybody in Inverclyde. Keep well.”
The council’s annual switch-on events went online this year due to the ongoing coronavirus restrictions but it proved every bit as spectacular with the Premier League duo joined by the entire Greenock Morton first team squad and the cast of the Inverclyde festive film, The Magical Beacon Stone, in wishing residents a happy Christmas.
The online curtain-raiser also featured the lights from every local town and village accompanied by musical performances of festive favourites from Inverclyde Voices choir and students from Notre Dame High and Clydeview Academy, dance routines performed by youngsters from Lucy’s Dance School plus special messages from Provost Martin Brennan, Reverend Alan Sorensen and pupils at various primaries and nurseries across the district.
Provost Brennan, who did the honours by switching on the lights, said: “A virtual celebration was not the way anyone imagined we’d be officially marking the start of the festive season in Inverclyde but it was wonderful nonetheless.
“My thanks to everyone who made it such a success, especially all our talented young performers with their fabulous singing and dancing.”
The virtual spectacular was first streamed on Friday night but is still available to watch at 6pm on the Inverclyde Council Facebook and YouTube channels.
It has been viewed by almost 5,500 people on YouTube alone.
Among the well-wishers were Still Game pair Jane McCarry and Mark Cox, River City actor Jimmy Chisholm, panto favourite Lee Samuel and actress Kim Allan, who are among the cast starring in The Magical Beacon Stone, which is being produced by the council in partnership with the Beacon Arts Centre.
The production will be premiered to school children next week and then will be available to watch for free via the Beacon website - www.beaconartscentre.co.uk - with people able to book now.
In the meantime, residents can watch the Inverclyde Christmas lights switch-on at youtube.com/inverclydecouncil.