. NEWS
PAGE ( updated 26th September
2008 )
This is where we'll announce the most recent additions
to our web site, and keep you up-to-date with all
the goings on!
GRAND
BOYS IN BUCHLYVIE FOR HOGMANAY
See in the New Year with The Grand
Boys at The Buchlyvie Inn, Buchlyvie, Stirlingshire.
It's only 20 minutes from Stirling and looks to be
a great night out. This will be the band's first visit
to the village. Contact Sean at the Buchlyvie Inn
on 01360 850058 to book tickets at £15.00 each
which includes light buffet.
GRAND
BOYS ALONG WITH ' CHRISTIAN '
A ladies
Night has been organised by Sheena in the Alva Masonic
on Friday 7th November. Along with The Grand Boys,
popular caberet singer ' Christian ' will be performing
too. Tickets cost £10.00 and are available from
Sheena on 01259217302.
OVER
£12,000 HAS BEEN RAISED THIS YEAR
The Grand Boys would like to thank
everyone who has helped in 2008 to raise this tremendous
amount of money and we're just going into September
! Numerous charities and worthy causes will benifit
this year when it will be handed over at the end of
the year in The Grand Boys Shop. The date has still
to be arranged. Thankyou.
GRAND
BOYS LIVE IN AMIGOS ALVA (Sat. 27th September 08 )
This is
a very popular venue in Alva, Clackmannonshire. We
would like to thank Trev for inviting us and hopefully
we can put on a good show again for his regulars and
visitors and lift the roof of the place (not literally)
All welcome.
CHEQUE
PRESENTATIONS 15th DECEMBER 2007
A total
of £9,500 was presented to various charities
and worthy causes at The Grand Boys Shop on the 15th
December 2007. This was a special Open Day and a great
crowd attended. Music was provided by The Grand Boys
and a joint choir performance by St Mary's Primary
School and Bannockburn Primary School. The event started
at 12 midday to 9pm. A licenced bar was provided along
with tea/coffee & sandwiches. The cheques were
presented between 1.00 - 2.00pm and all the charities
attended to recieve their cheques. It was a very successful
day and it really makes it all worthwhile. All this
money has been collected over 2007 from The Grand
Boys Shop, Band and general donations. A big thank
you to all who are giving their time to help others.
The beneficiaries were;
Downs syndrome
( Scotland ) - £1,000
Strathcarron
Hospice - £1,000
Metabolic
Activities Fund, Yorkhill Hospital - £1,000
Cardio Thoratic
Dept, Edinburgh Royal Infirmary - £1,000
Breast Cancer
Care Scotland - £1,000
Stirling
Royal Infirmary Ward 16 - £1,000
Forth Valley
Disability Sports - £1,000
Canavan
Brothers Fund - £1,000
St Mary's
Primary School - £500
Bannockburn
Primary School - £500
Five Nursing
Homes in the area Christmas Party Treats £100
each.
WORLD
RECORD BREAKERS
LONGEST CONCERT
BY A BAND 20th - 22nd February 2004
We are now official World Record
Breakers. The Grand Boys are now entered into the
famous Guinness Book of Records 2006 (page 172), they
have even put our photo in ! Our official time was
42 hours 38mins.These following names will go down
in Grand Boys folklore : Young Bob Kelly guitarist,
vocalist, whistle player, keyboarder (is it a word),
trumpeter it was this guy's idea to go for the record
and we all obliged. Adrian Robertson, guitarist, vocalist
with smoochie songs (bum grabbers) his speciality
could be classed as a Grand Boys' veteran now! Allan
Stewart, drummer and has banged a few drums for the
band over the years. Allan Marshall, guitarist and
more recently sax , a relatively newcomer to the band
but very much a dark horse, was there at the end of
the marathon gig. Bobby Kelly (daddy Bob) guitarist,
vocalist, a real pro with bags of experience and talent,
in line for player of the year 2006! Paul Bromley,
drums, the only Englishman to take part and ended
up singing Flower of Scotland at the finish, lives
up to the reputation that drummers are a race apart.
John Griffin, guitarist, vocalist, plays a bit bodhran
and still learning from the talent around him, enjoys
a guinness or two, the only origonal Grand Boy left.
Colin Sinclair,accordion, this man's a genius on the
box and always plays with a smile on his face. We
all had very sore fingers and very weak voices after
the effort but it was a great experience.
Of course these were the guys
who did it but no way could it have been done without
the help from so many people: organisers, witnesses,
doctors, supporters, sponsors, Smith's Restaurant
and staff. We really appreciated all this help that
we received. We raised around £5000
Click
here for pictures from the record attempt
GRAND BOYS
WIN MAJOR GRANT AWARDS in 2005
Stirling Council
The great news for all involved
with The Grand Boys is our successful bids for three
grants in 2005. Our first grant was £15,000
from Stirling Council Local Community Fund for to
purchase a brand new van. We are now proud owners
of a Peugeot Boxer van and it is making a big big
difference to our used furniture uplifting/delivery
service and also to our band equipment transportation
for charity gigs. We would like to thank Stirling
Council for this massive grant award.
..Increase
Programme ( Scottish Excecutive )
We were also successful in a major
grant award of £30,000 from The Scottish Executive
Increase Programme to have our Furniture Recycling
Centre in Bannockburn totally refurbished. The shop
was in very poor condition to the point of closing
down. The works began in October 2005 and should re
open sometime in April 2006. This date will be announced
soon. The shop has been transformed inside and outside
and should show a big increase in income and volunteers
when it is up and going again. A pitched roof was
fitted along with blocks and roughcast, a new disabled
access was constructed along with new white security
doors. Inside, heating was installed,three skylights,
new interior doors, new flush downlights and new band
practice area. We would also like to thank Increase
Programme for this award which will make a big difference
to many peoples lives.
..Awards
for All (Lottery)
The third grant success came from
the Awards for All (Lottery). We were awarded £5,000
to refit our kitchen/workshop area in the shop, complete
interior decor,new signage for shop,footpaths and
landscaping. A big thankyou for this grant which will
make a big difference to our shop.
.Finally we would like to thank
Pauline Douglas, Grants Officer at Stirling Council
for helping us with the grant application forms as
she played a big part in our successful bids.
THE
GRAND BOYS FURNITURE RECYCLING CENTRE
The Shop is doing really well
and is attracting visitors from all over. Why bin
your furniture when it can be used by other people.
Donate any unwanted furniture and household items
to shop and we raise money from the sale of your goods.
Its simple and very effective. We currently have six
volunteers in the shop who keep the shop open on a
rota. Opening hours are Mon - Frid 10.00am - 3.00pm
Sat. 10.00am - 2.00pm Sun. 12.00am - 3.00pm. Shop
tel. no. 01786 810868. .
ORGANIZED
KHAOS
We are all local lads from Bannockburn
and we guest at Grand Boys' gigs. we also perform
our own gigs. The four of us are in the age group
of 14 to 17 years old. If you are interested in Punk
music give us a call on 01786 489106, and we will
be happy to kick some life into your party. Our big
claim to fame to date was playing at Glasgow's Barrowlands
at a National Battle of the Bands competition in 2003.
We came third out of 250 bands. We have made a few
demos and are currently recording one at The Tollbooth
Theatre in Stirling. This was top prize for winning
a local Battle of the Bands compitition in Stirling
Albert Halls in 1stMarch 2006.
Grand
Boys Beneficiaries
The Grand Boys now donate to various worthy causes.
Click on "Causes" for info.
THE
GRAND BOYS BAND
2007 has been a very
successful year for the Band and we have played at
very enjoyable gigs. The members are all very talented
musicions who give their time to entertain others
and raise money. They are; John Wardynec on drums,
Bob Kelly on vocals, guitar.bass,keyboard (and others)
Colin Sinclair on accordion, John Griffin on vocals
& guitar, Bobby Kelly on vocals and lead guitar,
Allan Marshall on guitar and Adrian Robertson on vocals
bass and guitar.
.
Any news items that i've missed please
contact me John Griffin at grandboys@hotmail.co.uk