Isla St Clair to celebrate Scotland with Reading Scottish Pipe band

Organisers of a highland gathering in Reading are hoping you’ll say ‘Open that door!’ and come along to hear former Generation Game hostess Isla St Clair. The incredibly talented singer, songwriter and presenter is to be the special guest at Reading Scottish Pipe Band’s event this April.

It will be held at Reading’s Rivermead Leisure Centre on Sunday, April 19 from 3pm to 5.30pm.

As well as Isla, there will be guest performances from Wantage Silver Band, O’Gara Irish Dancers and folk duo Davaar.

Reading Scottish Pipe Band, which meets at St Andrew’s URC in London Road, Reading, have performed all over the world, including the closing ceremony of the 2012 London Olympic Games. They have been performing for more than 50 years, bring a taste of Scotland to the Thames Valley.

Isla St Clair is fondly remember for being the co-host of the BBC’s hugely popular gameshow The Generation Game. She starred alongside Larry Grayson from 1978-81, regularly attracting more than 19 million viewers. Larry’s catchphrase on the show was ‘Shut that door!’ and much comedy ensued due to malfunctioning stage doors on the show’s set.

Since leaving the show, she has appeared as Maria in The Sound of Music and appeared on Songs of Praise. She has also released many albums devoted to Scottish music.

The YouTube video above sees her singing Robert Burns’ famous work My Love Is Like A Red Red Rose.

She made her stage debut when she was just three – performing at her mother’s Brownie concerts and appearing with the Salvation Army.

Tickets for the gathering are due to go on sale soon and can be obtained by visiting www.readingscottish.org or calling 07785 927380.

For more on Isla and her career, visit her website.