Fundraiser to honour former Glasgow Times sports reporter
Bert Mitchell, who died aged 56 after suffering a stroke, will be remembered at his beloved Bridge of Allan Sports Club on Saturday, May 10.
The event, organised by his wife Arlene and daughter Ava, will raise funds for Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland.
Read more: Moving baby loss remembrance service will be held at Glasgow Cathedral
The day, which coincides with Stroke Awareness Day, will be packed with some of Bert's favourite things: sport, food, and socialising.
It is set to feature a squash and tennis exhibition match, as Bert was an avid player of both sports.
Arlene said: "Bert was into sport throughout his life.
"He started in tennis, then got into squash, and latterly he was into padel.
"He was definitely a racket player.
"It felt right that we should do something to remember him and ensure his legacy lives on.
"I want people to remember Bert and for the new generation of members to acknowledge his contribution to the club.
"I don't want his hard work and 'larger than life' personality to be forgotten about as the years go on."
The day will kick off at 1pm, with a BBQ scheduled for 1.30pm.
This will be followed by the tennis exhibition at 3pm, featuring tennis coach Jonny O'Mara and some of Stirling University's best players.
A squash exhibition match will then take place later in the afternoon, featuring senior international and PSA players John Meehan and Andrew Glen.
The day will end with a raffle, auction, and the unveiling of a memorial plaque for Bert at the squash courts.
Ava said: "We've got Jonny O'Mara, who coached Andy Murray in his final year on court and who reached a career high of 44 in doubles, taking part in a tennis exhibition match.
"We're hoping to raise as much money as possible for Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland."
Tickets to the event can be purchased from the Bridge of Allan Sports Club.
Donations for Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland can also be made to the family's fundraising page: https://tinyurl.com/4bdktwsv.
Read more: Glasgow's unsung WWII heroes honoured for bravery
Louise MacLeod, events, community, and corporate fundraiser at CHSS, said: "We wish Arlene and Ava all the best for their upcoming fundraiser.
"It's incredible to see the effort they have put into the day and we hope they receive plenty of support from the local community.
"The money raised from this day will help us to support the 1 in 5 people across the country who are living with chest, heart and stroke conditions and Long Covid to live their lives to the full."
Anyone looking for information or advice about living with the effects of a chest, heart or stroke condition or Long Covid, is invited to contact Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland's Advice Line on 0808 801 0899.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Glasgow Times
20 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow's Cathkin Park could be named an important historic site
Historic Environment Scotland (HES) is seeking public opinion on proposals to designate the remains of the football ground in Cathkin Park as a scheduled monument. The historically significant site has had a huge role in the development of Scottish football. Read more: WWII veteran celebrating 100th birthday reveals secret to long life Located in Glasgow's Southside, the ground was first used by Queen's Park in 1883-4. Originally known as Hampden Park, named after the original Hampden which is now the site of Hampden Bowling Club, the grounds hosted all Scottish Cup finals between 1885 and 1899. In 1903, Queen's Park moved to a new ground, and the site became home to Third Lanark, one of the eight founding member clubs of the Scottish Football Association (SFA). A brand new stadium was built on the site in 1904, which was renamed New Cathkin Park, where the club continued to play until its demise in 1967. Cathkin Park, with its surviving terracing and embankments, is a rare example of a late 19th-early 20th-century football stadium. It is the only major football ground from the period which has survived in as complete a form. Read more: 'Incredible' Glasgow man presented top trade union award by First Minister Dara Parsons, head of designations at HES, said: "Scheduling is a way of ensuring that nationally important historic sites are recognised and protected and that their importance is taken into account in decisions about their management. "Scotland is recognised as a pioneering nation in the development of football. "Cathkin Park, as the recognised home of one of Scotland's most historically important football clubs, played a key part in that story. "We would encourage anyone with views on the site's significance, or any information that may help inform our final decision, to review our report and take part in our consultation." Public consultation on proposed designation will be open for submissions until June 19, via the HES website.
Daily Record
23-05-2025
- Daily Record
Fundraisers club together to remember Stirling author and sports fan
Bridge of Allan Sports Club hosted a remembrance fundraiser event in honour of dedicated member Bert Mitchell, who sadly died of a stroke last April. His wife Arlene and daughter Ava put on a day to celebrate their beloved Bert and to ensure his legacy lives on at his club. The day boasted everything Mitchell enjoyed: sport, food and socialising. Ava said: 'With excellent cuisine thanks to the Secret Chef, everyone was kept happy with the vast selection of food options. 'A thanks needs to go to Louise from Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland who said a couple of words on the day on the impact of strokes and how many people in the UK are affected. 'Approximately 100,000 people have a stroke each year in the UK. 'Stats like that put into perspective how important it is to raise money for causes like CHSS, to help ensure no-one is alone when going through a stroke.' The first exhibition of the afternoon was tennis, featuring Jonny O' Mara [Andy Murray's coach for his last year on court] and some of Stirling University's best players: Scott MacAulay, Matthew Earnshaw and Robert Cawley. Ava added: 'The match was a smashing success with people oohing and aahing at every shot. 'Everyone loved the raffle and it came to a point where tickets had to be created as they ran out. 'A huge thank you has to go to all the companies and brands who donated to us. 'These include: Whyler Photography, Adam Brown Tennis Academy, Paper Kisses, Malmaison, Hotel Du Vin, Game4Padel, Head Squash, Arran Sense of Scotland, Stirling Gin, Birds and the Bees and Graham's Dairy's, among others. 'The day was non-stop with a squash exhibition match starting at 5pm featuring John Meehan and Andrew Glen who are both Senior International players. 'This was a gripping match with both players dripping of sweat and it went to a fourth set. 'The level was high and points were long, with viewers turning their heads at each stroke. 'They certainly put on a good show.' The day fittingly concluded at the squash courts with the unveiling of a memorial plaque in honour of Bert Mitchell. It has been positioned between court 3 and 4. Court four is memorable for being 'Bert's court' - the one he loved to play on and booked regularly. Ava said: 'It felt right to conclude the day where my dad spent much of his time training on court. ' It was great to see so many people who knew my dad, supporting us on the day. 'I want to thank the local community for their help in advertising our event. 'A special thanks needs to go to Forrester Pyke, the local organist at Bridge of Allan Parish Church who put posters up in the church. 'It was great to have the support from so many.' Arlene and Ava have so far raised nearly £1500 on Justgiving - with further funds raised on the day seeing the total so far sitting at around £3500. The pair are hoping with further advertisement and encouragement they could get to £5000. Arlene said: 'It was a great day and everyone was so generous - but we are still keen to keep pushing. 'We want to reach £5000 for the charity. 'Any donations would mean a lot to us. 'Even £10 could make a difference to someone struggling with a stroke just now. 'Please help us reach our target to a well deserving cause which is close to many of our hearts.'
Daily Record
14-05-2025
- Daily Record
Stirling pensioner at front of swimming lessons drive - and says age no barrier
The 74-year-old says an early experience of almost drowning as a youngster shaped his attitude - and has spoken of the benefits of getting into the water. A 74-year-old who swims every week at Stirling University is backing a campaign telling people it's never too late to learn the skill. John Nicolson is a real advocate of learning to swim - but an early experience almost shaped his attitude for life. 'I nearly drowned when I was three years old in a pond and it put me off swimming for many years – my school experience was not great either. 'I came back to swimming later in life and now gain huge amounts from swimming every week. 'Once I came to the first class I found it really challenging. The whole coaching process was excellent and I began to realise I was doing things and it just clicked. It was an improving journey all the time and I've still got a lot to do, but the journey has been fantastic. 'Swimming enables me to be fitter, it enables me to have a sort of platform and that is my way of keeping fit, keeping healthy and being able to do all the things I couldn't do when I was arthritic. 'I think if anyone's got doubts about learning to swim because of age or capability or health, I think they've got to try it. 'They will find learning to swim will enable them to do other things as well that you want to do in life like getting about, and that I think is essential.' Scottish Swimming has seen a 152 per cent increase in adult swimming programmes as reported by National Learn to Swim Framework lesson providers across the country. On the back of the launch of #NeverTooLate last year – a campaign to get more adults learning to swim and taking up aquatic sports - lesson providers delivering the National Framework (a partnership between Scottish Swimming and Scottish Water), have reported a substantial increase in adult involvement from 729 adults in 2024 to 1840 in 2025. Staggeringly one in three adults in the UK cannot swim the length of a pool yet 63 per cent of Scots say it is important to them to have access to a swimming pool, the sea or a loch on holiday. Learning to swim is an essential life skill and never more so than in the summer months. John Lunn, CEO of Scottish Swimming said: 'The recent good weather makes water all the more appealing for a swim or paddle and this is when people need to be fully aware of the dangers. 'Our drowning statistics in Scotland are more than double those of the UK and our unique geography with 11800 km of coastline and 30,000 inland waters means that danger is never far away. 'My hope is that the #NeverTooLate campaign continues to have an impact and persuades even more adults to learn this vital life skill. 'Swimming is a fantastic activity, when done safely, for family enjoyment, individual fitness and all round health. 'It's great to see John and others like him gaining so much enjoyment from swimming as well as the important health benefits.' According to the Scottish Household Survey in 2023, 13 per cent of adults swim regularly – the highest participation sport after going to the gym and weight training. For women participation rates are even higher - 14 per cent of women swim regularly – the same percentage who do keep fit and aerobics, and for adults with disabilities swimming is the highest participation sport.
