1977/78: Bingos

BINGO!!!

After having to move from our "rent-free" location at the Market Square in 1977, the band located a new hall, but were forced with additional expenses. A meeting was held on Feb.10,1978, at 10:00 P.M. and it was approved that the GALT KILTIE BAND obtain a class "A" Bingo License. Gaby Currie was to approach the City for a license and Bob Fox was to see the Royal Bank to obtain a loan for $5,000.00 to finance this venture.

The Bingo License was obtained. A loan was received from the Royal Bank on March 20/78 at 10 1/2 %interest. Endorsers or guarantors of this $5,000.00 loan were: Frank Gadd, Susan Johannes, Harry and Gabby Currie, Steve Deacon,
Linda Lantz, Neil Harvie, Bob Fox and Manuel DeVargas.

Our bingos were held every Thursday evening and we started into the gambling business with high hopes. These high hopes dwindled as week after week we ìƒïƒóƒôƒ money. Bear in mind, we are talking twenty years ago and not too many people were crazy as they are to-day -- we had to build up a clientele, the more players, the more money we would make. We were becoming quite worried as our $5,000.00 was just about gone for hall rent and accessories and to pay out winnings to bingo players, when one Thursday evening, Harry and Gaby came over to the Kress Hotel where I was playing with Ken Hurst, smiled at me and said, "for the first time we
made money". From that Thursday on we never lost money.

Our loan was finally paid off on Sept.21/78, we started to put money in the band's pocket as not only did we need additional instruments but our uniforms were in very bad shape. We saved our money and with a grant from Wintario, we purchased new uniforms which were worn for the first time on Nov.11/79.

I have mentioned before the name of Neil Harvie. Neil is not in our band anymore but was a very, very, dedicated KILTIE member. When we had our 80th. birthday celebration, Neil wrote a couple of items which closes this "Did You Know?" section. Maybe next issue, I will write about all the work he has done for our band. Well now, that's how your band got "out of the hole". Hope you have enjoyed.

Sources:

Galt Kiltie Band Newsletter: Issue #14, Christmas 1996, written by Bob Fox

Retyped and posted to the web by band member, Graham Nasby, in 1999.

Reformated for new website on April 3, 2005.