A Dumfries drag queen has stepped up to keep bingo sessions alive in the town – and to support the running costs of the Loreburn Hall.
The former drill hall has been brought back to community life by the Big Burns Supper team as part of a 12-months test with Dumfries and Galloway Council.
The pilot includes cinema screenings, live gigs, community events and performing arts.
So far, more than 800 Doonhamers have signed up to become members and the venue has entertained audiences of just under 17,000 in the first ten months with artists like Russell Kane and Rosie Jones.
Now, it’s eyes down, with Le Haggis favourite, Tatty Von Haggis, offering up the Loreburn Hall following the expected closure of Buzz Bingo in Shakespeare Street on April 10, with the loss of 11 jobs.
It is one of nine facing closure across the UK with the company citing the “ongoing and challenging operating environment” as the reason for wielding the axe.
Justin Hyslop as Tatty said it will be a real loss to fans of the game of chance and wants to help: “I am getting sick of this, ma wee pals love the bingo.
“If they shut anything else doon in this toon, we will need to put the words ‘closing doon’ on the Dumfries sign coming in tae the toon.
“Bingo is a great way to get out and meet people and have a bit of banter with each other.
“If I can raise a wee bit of money to cover the Loreburn Hall’s electric bills right noo, then even better.”
A Dumfries Community Bingo weekend will take place once a month on a Saturday afternoon, Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon, launching on April 15 and 16, with prizes to be won. Each event will include a major prize winner.
The new project is part of the interim programme of events put in place by the Big Burns Supper team until September which includes 63 different events ranging from live music, jazz clubs and community dance
sessions.
As well as regular bingo, the programme includes the return to the Loreburn of the fun sell-out event, Bonkers Bingo, which returns on Friday, with top prizes like holidays to Spain.
More details are online at Bigburnssupper.com/bingo.
