Open again…..John Watson OBE cuts the ribbon to declare the ski centre fully reopened. Looking on are Club members and staff along with firefighters.
BEARSDEN Snowsports Club has unveiled a stylish new look over a year after it was hit by a fire.
The upper floor of the well known ski club was badly damaged by a blaze in July last year after a bin caught fire.
The club was back in action within a week but catering facilities where the fire took hold have been out of action ever since.
Now it has been formally opened creating an impressive function suite, bar and glazed panoramic viewing point where skiers of all ages can be observed skiing down both the club’s slopes.
And in a further development, the Club – which celebrated its 60th birthday last year – has received a substantial cash boost from renowned Glasgow businessman and philanthropist John Watson OBE.
John, a former President of the Bearsden Ski Club as the club was previously known, cut a ribbon to mark its full reopening.
John said: “I’m delighted that the Club is fully operational again after the fire. The improvements are remarkable and enhance the facilities enormously. Here’s to the next 60 years!”
Appropriately, firefighters from the Scottish Fire and Rescue service whose colleagues extinguished the blaze, were invited along to join the re-opening celebrations.
Gordon Scott, General Manager of Bearsden Snowsports Club, said: “The fire was a real blow but happily we were up and running with our sporting facilities within a week.
“But due to the damage to catering area it was not possible to reopen this aspect of our operation. But we’re back now fully operational with new, enhanced and stylish facilities of which we can all be very proud.
“We want to say big thank you to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service whose skill in tackling the blaze last year prevented a much worse outcome. We will be forever grateful for their heroic actions.”
Club President Billy McNeill added: “We are thrilled to be back operating at full strength for our members and the local community of which we are proud to be part.
“We will now redouble our efforts in encouraging the community to use our new enhanced facilities notably our function suite for events ranging from lunches to special occasions so we can share our facilities with a wider audience.
Commenting on the cash donation from John Watson and his philanthropic organisation The Watson Foundation, Mr McNeill said: “We can’t thank John Watson enough. He has a long and proud association with the Club and his generosity is greatly appreciated by all members.”
As a thank you the Club has bestowed the rare accolade of Honorary Membership on Mr Watson.