The red carpet was rolled out in Clydebank over the weekend as a local charity launched “the world’s-first” wheelchair entertainment venue. Golden Friendships, located in Dalmuir, welcomed a number of celebrities and public figures to its inaugural Red Ramp Event on Saturday. Jim McLaren, founder of the group, told the Clydebank Post that the evening was “outstanding” and that he is already busy planning the next event. Jim said: “Everyone had a ball, it was a great night. John Beattie from the BBC and his band played, Michelle McManus sang through dinner and Jackie Bird got up to sing with the band.
“My nephew James, who was volunteering as a waiter, went up and belted out four songs, he was amazing and Anita Manning from Bargain Hunt also came and did the auction. We managed to raise £4,400. The whole thing was marvellous but overwhelming.”
”The thing that made my night more than anything was Margaret Maceira in her wheelchair dancing and smiling all night long.
Jim McLarenGolden Friendships
Martin Docherty-Hughes, West Dunbartonshire’s MP, was in attendance on the night and presented the charity with a surprise. He added: “It was a privilege to present a copy of my parliamentary motion to Jim and all the team at the Golden Friendships Club. “I’m grateful for everything they do to improve the lives of disabled people across West Dunbartonshire and beyond. The launch of Red Ramp Events was a great success. I commend everyone involved for bringing what we believe to be the world’s first community-based wheelchair entertainment venue to Clydebank.”
Glasgow based TV company Demus Productions have been filming the progress of Golden Friendships for the past five years for a documentary and finished filming on the inaugural Red Ramp night. This event is the first of many already in the diary over the coming months, where wheelchair users can come and let their hair down and enjoy a great night out in comfort. The Golden Friendships story is a real story of one man’s dream fulfilled by a whole community coming together during a difficult time to help the most in need.
