Latest news with #FraserWilson
Daily Record
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Inaugural Strathaven Beer Festival draws in over 1000 revellers
Not even a downpour mid-way through could dampen the spirits of most beer enthusiasts, as the festival site stayed busy until the end. The inaugura l Strathaven Beer Festival took place at the weekend - with over 1000 revellers enjoying the event. And not even a downpour mid-way through could dampen the spirits of most beer enthusiasts, as the festival site stayed busy until the end. Organised by the team behind the award-winning Eaglesham Beer Fest, the gathering showcased some of Scotland's best craft brewers and drinks brands. It was supported by lip-smacking street food and fantastic live music, which kept Strathaven's hardy souls warm and entertained during the two bouts of rain. Organiser Fraser Wilson told Lanarkshire Live: 'We are so grateful to the people of Strathaven for welcoming us into the town for the event, which we think was a roaring success. 'We had sold over 1100 briefs for our first event and over 85 per cent of those ticket holders attended - that doesn't include those who bought on the day, or children. 'For the most, we rode our luck and the weather was fine - sunny in parts, even. But at around 3.20pm there was an hour of pretty miserable rain and most people ran for cover, with a few calling it a day.' But the bad weather couldn't stop the party, with live music from Zack Dale and Underdog keeping spirits up. And those spirits went through the roof when teen-singing sensation Connor Fyfe had the large marquee rocking. That was mirrored in the large Scout tent by John McLarnon, who made the most of his ad hoc staging to put on a fabulous singalong. Let's Get Eclectic brought the house down with a superb DJ set, which sent revellers into the Strathaven evening to enjoy hospitality elsewhere. Fraser added: 'We're really chuffed at how it went and are really keen to hear people's feedback. 'If it's something that people enjoyed, feel the town benefitted from and want to see return, then we'd be happy to look into Strathaven Beer Fest 2026. "We want to say a huge thank you to the Strathaven business community, Scouts, Avondale Radio, and Balloon Festival team for their support during our preparations.' *Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.
Daily Record
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Good times will be pouring in Kilmarnock next weekend
The event will take place on the grounds beside Rugby Park. Organisers of next weekend's inaugural Kilmarnock Beer Festival have unveiled a special beer for the occasion. And after months of hard graft and promotion, they say they 'can't wait' to welcome punters through the gates of Rugby Park. The team behind the event were 'delighted' to have worked with Black Isle Brew to come up with Killie's own beer for the day, Squirrel Helles. Organiser Fraser Wilson told Ayrshire Live: 'It's brilliant to be able to tell the people of Killie they have their own beer for the day and we really hope festival-goers give it a try. 'Black Isle are one of Scotland's best brewers and the Helles lager is a really refreshing session drink - one we expect to be a hit with craft beer lovers and non-craft beer lovers alike.' This limited-edition lager will be available at The Taproom bar where you can also get your hands on the popular St Mungo's lager by WEST and a seasonal German Radler. Fraser added: 'Every summer Schofferhoffer do a limited run of their Radler and it's one of the highlights of the year for beer enthusiasts. 'The 2025 summer flavour is Tropical and it tastes amazing – think passionfruit and mangoes. It's a low percentage wheat beer cut with fresh fruit juice and is the ideal beer to have with your mates in the sun.' Over 1500 thirsty beer lovers are set to descend on the grounds of Rugby Park stadium, with organisers hopeful the event will be a welcome boost to the local economy. Counting down the hours, Fraser added: 'Like a shaken can of IPA, we're about ready to burst - I just wish it was here already. 'There's been a lot of work gone into this and a lot of effort in trying to make it something Kilmarnock can be proud of. There's definitely nerves and anxiety surrounding the event, but we're confident that's something we've achieved. A different event to what you'd expect to see at Rugby Park on a Saturday, the June 7 'swally' runs from 12pm-7pm and will showcase the best of independent Scottish beer, gin, cocktails, wine and fantastic street food. The tasty suds and spuds will be supported with a fantastic line-up of live music. That will see newly signed Ayrshire singer, Kayleigh, perform with covers band, Underdog, also taking to the stage. Edinburgh trad singers, The Greasy Whiskers, will play throughout the day, with the day's entertainment headlined by DJ Kevin Spalding, better known as Let's Get Eclectic. Pouring pints at the festival will be Dookit, Outlandish, Simple Things Fermentation, Two Towns Down, and Tempest breweries. They'll be joined by fellow brewers from Sulwath, Five Kingdoms, Winton Brewery, and Williams Bros. For non-beer lovers, Angels Dare Cocktails, The Dispensary Bar, EspressoKart, The Little Margarita Truck and Panther Milk will be in attendance. Champer Camper will be taking care of the weekend's fizz and Ayrshire very own Ayrshire Riviera will be serving crisp, refreshing cider. There will also be a dedicated gin and tonic bar from the team at The Orry Botanical Gin and another from the Agronomist. Food vendors will be serving up the Killie gyros , tacos, BBQ, smash burgers, fish & chips, pizza and cheesecake.
Daily Record
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Around 1000 punters set to enjoy Strathaven Beer Festival this weekend
Tickets are still available online and will be available at the gate by scanning a QR code. Strathaven will be the place to be 'for thrills' this Saturday as the town's new beer festival takes place. And after months of hard graft and promotion, the team behind the event say they 'can't wait' to welcome punters through the gates. Around 1000 thirsty beer lovers are set to descend on the town's George Allan Park, with organisers hopeful the event will be a welcome boost to the local economy. Counting down the hours, organiser Fraser Wilson said: 'Like a shaken can of IPA, we're about ready to burst - I just wish it was here already. 'There's been a lot of work gone into this and a lot of effort in trying to make it something Strathaven can be proud of. There's definitely nerves and anxiety surrounding the event, but we're confident that's something we've achieved. 'We've also created Strathaven's very own 'Castle Helles' lager for the day and we can't wait for locals to try that. It's being poured at The Taproom bar, next to the marquee and is the perfect beer for a summer's day.' A different event to the town's already successful Round Table Beer Festival, the new 'swally' will be a fun-filled community event showcasing the best of independent Scottish beer, gin, cocktails, wine and fantastic street food. The tasty suds and spuds will be supported with children's entertainment and a fantastic line-up of live music. That will see teen Scottish singing sensation, Connor Fyfe, perform, with live music also coming from local singer, John McLarnon and covers band, Underdog. Edinburgh trad singers, The Greasy Whiskers, will play throughout the day, with the day's entertainment headlined by DJ Kevin Spalding, better known as Let's Get Eclectic. Pouring pints at the festival will be Dookit, Outlandish, Simple Things Fermentation, Two Towns Down and Up Front breweries. They'll be joined by fellow brewers from Tempest, Winton Brewery and Six Degrees North. For non-beer lovers, Angels Dare Cocktails, The Dispensary Bar, RAER Whisky and Netherfield Whisky will be on hand to quench thirsts, with Strathaven's very own Champer Camper taking care of the weekend's fizz. There will also be a dedicated gin and tonic bar from the team at The Orry Botanical Gin. Fellow organiser, Richard Malloy, added: 'We want to celebrate Scottish craft beers with a wider audience and back that up with street food and entertainment to create a great party atmosphere. 'It'll be a real community occasion, with entertainment for kids by way of Operation Play Outdoors, facepainting and balloon animals, and ice cream - lots of ice cream.' Looking to utilise local service providers and traders where possible, the event will welcome food from Country Park Catering, Roasted Cafe, Smokin' Delights barbecue and Nether Lethame Farm ice cream, all of which are from the area. Strathaven Beer Festival is this Saturday, May 31, from noon to 7pm. Tickets are still available online and will be available at the gate by scanning a QR code. To get yours ahead of the event, visit the festival's Facebook and Instagram pages, or head to
Glasgow Times
19-05-2025
- Health
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow man who had heart transplant to trek Sahara Desert
Fraser Wilson, 48, from Glasgow, was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy at the age of 14 – a condition that eventually led to heart failure. The illness is genetic, having already sadly claimed the lives of his mother. In 2018, Fraser had an Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD) fitted by the Scottish National Advanced Heart Failure Service (SNAHFS) team at the Golden Jubilee University National Hospital. As his condition worsened, he eventually received a heart transplant at NHS Golden Jubilee — a procedure that has given him a new lease of life. Read more: You could get TRNSMT tickets by taking part in this Glasgow fashion trail (Image: NHS Golden Jubilee) Read more: Company moves into Glasgow office with plans to recruit staff Now, the bank worker is set to trek 100km across southern Morocco over four and a half days, alongside 90 of his colleagues. Fraser said: "I wanted to prove to myself that after having a heart transplant, three years later, I can do anything. "I feel better than ever and grateful for having the opportunity of a heart transplant and the benefit to me has been life-changing, waking up every day with this amazing perspective in life because you're just grateful for still being here. 'You honestly want to start grabbing opportunities as they arise." He has been training rigorously for the trek, including personal sessions at the gym and completing the 14-mile Kiltwalk at the end of April. Fraser is also a member of the Glasgow Adult Transplant Sports Team and regularly competes in the British Transplant Games. He said: "The Glasgow Adult Transplant Sports Team is a relatively small team. "Everyone is part of the committee and we're joining with around 3,000 competitors at the British Transplant Games in Oxford later this year. "Being part of the team and the games provides a level of comfort and knowledge that you don't have, like non-transplanted people, so it feels like quite an exclusive group that you're a part of, as well as having that ongoing contact with people with the same experience as you. 'And it's not all about your transplant, we enjoy ourselves and have a lot of fun.' Fraser has set a personal fundraising target of £4,000 for his Sahara trek and is also exploring other ways to raise additional funds for the charity Crisis. Jane Lockhart, transplant co-ordinator at NHS Golden Jubilee, said: "Being able to look after our patients, like Fraser, and see how their lives improve after a transplant is an absolute privilege for our team. "Fraser's journey highlights the importance of organ donation and shows just how lives can not only be saved but transformed as well. "We'd like to wish Fraser and his colleagues all the best in this amazing adventure.'
STV News
16-05-2025
- Health
- STV News
Scot tackles 100km desert trek two years after heart transplant
A man is set to attempt a 100km trek through the Sahara Desert, two years after receiving a life-saving heart transplant. Fraser Wilson, 48, underwent the transplant in 2023 when his health deteriorated as a result of a genetic heart condition called cardiomyopathy. The illness had previously claimed the lives of four members of his family, including his mother. The Glaswegian was just 14 when he was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy, which then progressed to heart failure, resulting in him being fitted with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator in 2018. However his health continued to go downhill, resulting in him spending more than five months in NHS Golden Jubilee in Clydebank before becoming one of a record 40 Scots to receive a heart transplant in 2023. Mr Wilson's cousin Louise Campbell, from Wishaw, also has genetic cardiomyopathy and they were both 45 when they had heart transplants at the hospital. Two years on, bank worker Mr Wilson said he is undertaking the four-and-a-half day, 100km trek in southern Morocco to prove to himself that he can 'do anything'. He said: 'I feel better than ever and grateful for having the opportunity of a heart transplant. 'The benefit to me has been life-changing, waking up every day with this amazing perspective in life because you're just grateful for still being here. 'You honestly want to start grabbing opportunities as they arise. 'The trek is really well organised, (the) regime during the trek is largely self-driven, with some guidance from the event organisers, and I am doing some rigorous training in preparation for the trek, but I'm loving it because it gives me a real reason to get fit. 'I've started doing personal training at the gym and I'm getting a lot more walking in. I did the 14-mile Kiltwalk at the end of April, which was brilliant.' PA Media Fraser Wilson completed the 14-mile Kiltwalk in April (Fraser Wilson/PA). November's trek is organised by Mr Wilson's employer Lloyds Bank, and he will be taking part alongside 90 of his colleagues. He has set himself a target of raising £4,000 for homelessness charity Crisis. The 48-year-old is also a member of the Glasgow Adult Transplant Sport Team, and is set to participate in the British Transplant Games in Oxford later this year. 'Being part of the team and the games provides a level of comfort and knowledge that you don't have, like non-transplanted people, so it feels like quite an exclusive group that you're a part of, as well as having that ongoing contact with people with the same experience as you,' he explained. 'It's not all about your transplant, we enjoy ourselves and have a lot of fun.' Mr Wilson acknowledged the support and aftercare he has received from the Scottish National Advanced Heart Failure Service based at NHS Golden Jubilee, which provides lifelong aftercare for transplant patients. He has also attended events such as the heart transplant Christmas lunch, which provides all Scottish patients with the opportunity to connect with other transplant recipients. NHS Golden Jubilee transplant co-ordinator Jane Lockhart said: 'Being able to look after our patients, like Fraser, and see how their lives improve after a transplant is an absolute privilege for our team. 'Fraser's journey highlights the importance of organ donation and shows just how lives can not only be saved but transformed as well, and we'd like to wish Fraser and his colleagues all the best in this amazing adventure.' For more information about the trek, and to make a donation visit Just Giving. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
