It was with great sadness that the club learned of the recent death of its Honorary President and inspirational co-founder,Alistair Macleod.

Alistair was instrumental in the club’s formation, a direct consequence of his passionate introduction of Gilbert & Sullivan operettas to Airdrie Academy in the early 1960s, which inspired many young people to “take to the stage”.

In 1973 Alistair left Airdrie Academy to take up a senior post in Caldervale High School, a new school in the countryside on the outskirts of Airdrie. However, also in that year a group of pupils who had become hooked on opera during their time at Airdrie Academy persuaded Alistair and Betty Pearson to help set up an adult operatic society. Airdrie Academy Former Pupils Amateur Operatic Society was born, with Alistair as Producer & Betty as Musical Director.

Alistair produced the club’s first 10 shows, from the debut performance of “The Mikado” in 1974 to Offenbach’s “La Vie Parisienne” in 1983, before “retiring” to concentrate on his career as Head Teacher at Caldervale High School, and a host of other commitments. The following year, he was appointed as Honorary President, and continued to give unstinting support to the club, as it changed its name to become Monklands Light Opera as we know it today.

Many fine things have been said about Alistair, especially at the memorial Service, attended by club members, past and present. Alistair was an enormously important part of this club, however we know that his importance to us is only a fraction of his importance and subsequent loss to his loving family, who have all been great supporters of the club. Our thoughts are very much with Alistair’s wife, Fiona, his children Aileen and Stuart, his daughter-in-law Karen, his granddaughter Caitlin, as well as his brother and sisters.

The senior members of the club who knew Alistair best, and remember the dramatic sweeping back of the hair, the exhortations to “React!”, the miraculous last minute changes that rescued seemingly disastrous scenes, Friday nights singing parodies of concert items in the pub and wild Saturday Night After-Show parties, have pledged to ensure that present and future club members will be aware of the drive, inspiration and influence of Alistair in the creation of a Club that has given, and will continue to give, great pleasure and lifelong friendships to all who participate.

It is fitting and proper that the Club has dedicated the performances of “Summer Holiday”, in the theatre which he helped to design, to Alistair’s memory.