Hooray at Holyrood
By Sally Cassidy
The car was loaded to the gunnels with absolutely everything we could possibly need for the Holyrood reception. Weeks of ringing, faxing and e-mailing potential guests culminated in the scramble to make sure everything was right on the night.
Display board was in place, P/A set up, and anything else we needed was quickly arranged. The middle of the afternoon and the building was still a work place, we dodged around MSPs deep in conversation and had to wait for the TV crew to leave the Garden Lobby before we could take their spot and put our photo backdrop up.
Guests began to arrive and the one headache - when is it not? - The Technical Stuff was still not in place. But once again the staff saved the day; Terry on the P/A and a resident IT expert came to the rescue; just in time.
Our student film crew arrive; Ross and Lee with different crews have become indispensable assets to our work. Nervous but not showing it, they efficiently and professionally set up their equipment.
The young fiddler takes his place, 17 and still at school; Peter is a real find. Together, he and his violin create a rich, mellow sound - halfway between folk and classical - the sounds fill the much photographed Holyrood stairwell.
The photographer gets his instructions, the presentations are lined up; no time to worry now.
Lord Ashcroft is presented with a handsome crystal vase on an engraved plinth in recognition of his services to communities by bringing Crimestoppers to the UK and Deputy Justice Minister Hugh Henry accepts a thank you gift of a boxed bottle of wine. Lots of photos to be taken of different combinations of guests and speakers and MSPs and ministers - David the photographer is, thankfully, unflappable.
Anxious that we would never get the speeches started, suddenly it's underway.
Mr. Henry welcomes the guests, asks for a round of well-deserved applause for our fiddler and makes his speech. Those of us waiting with our typed words, wonder that he can speak so fluently with no notes! He praises Crimestoppers Scotland - that makes all the effort worthwhile.
Waiting for my turn I, at last have time to look around the Garden Lobby, now filled with our assembled guests. I know them all; by their e-mail addresses, their voices on the phone and the conversations with their secretaries. But which is which? There will be time to speak to them later, for now it's enough to know that the space is filled, they are here willingly waiting to hear what we have to say.
Lord Ashcroft follows the Deputy Minister, talking about how he introduced Crimestoppers to the UK. Our chairman, Stewart McCulloch is next; the sound man and I panic that we haven't explained the slide control button to him. I nip in and take it.
Stewart talks about our campaigns which have returned our best ever results; Deputy Director of the Scottish Criminal Record Office Carol McLean which houses our Call Centre follows him with details of our call figures and 'success stories'. The guests are completely engrossed, if they are anxious to get away to watch the big match, they're not showing it!
And then it's my turn, the IT stuff is going smoothly; nothing to worry about. I talk about our Associates Network and wonder how many of them might actually want to join - we'll have to wait and see. At least they laugh in all the right places.
New members receive their plaques, Her Majesties Chief Inspector of Constabularies, tall and distinguished, thanks our guests for attending - praises Crimestoppers Scotland (we're starting to believe we deserve it by this point!) and it's time for the buffet.
The food is laid out beautifully, tastes good and the guests are milling around mixing and chatting. It's been a success, I can really relax now.
But not quite off duty yet: 'well done', 'we must have a meeting and talk more about this', 'what do we have to do next to become members?' 'How do we take this forward?' Everyone is complimentary and friendly; good wishes on all sides, plenty of possibilities.
Then the guests have gone, the Garden lobby is empty. It's a rare privilege to be there, late at night with just the porters and the last few parliamentary assistants leaving. Just echoes of the busy day...
Sally Cassidy, Associates Network Coordinator
sally@crimestoppersscotland.com
Tel: 01334 840483.
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