Still Rollin, a Bay City Rollers fan community, connects more than 1,500 members worldwide through their shared passion for the Edinburgh band.
Led by their coordinators – Gail Shackley in the UK, Susan Rostron, Laura Brady, and Sheila Nittz in the US, and Kat Connor in Canada – the group organises events to keep the band’s legacy alive.
In October last year, the community celebrated the 50th anniversary of the band’s debut album “Rollin” with a Gala at the Caledonian Hotel, drawing 150 fans from across the globe.
The community honours the memory of founding member Alan Longmuir, who died in July 2018, and lead singer Les McKeown, who passed away in April 2021. Following a conversation with Les’ widow, Peko, about his wish for a memorial bench in Princes Street Gardens, the group launched a fundraising campaign. Peko donated items from Les’ stage wardrobe for auction which were displayed at the October Gala.
The initiative expanded to include a bench for Alan Longmuir with his wife Eileen’s blessing. The fundraising gained momentum when Eric Faulkner, the band’s lead guitarist and songwriter, offered previously unreleased music through his “Stars in Your Eyes” EP in exchange for donations. Eric recorded a personal tribute on the record.
Through these efforts, the campaign raised more than £12,000, far exceeding the initial £5,045 target. Eric requested that surplus funds benefit Help Musicians, a charity that supported him during his battle with viral encephalitis in 2015.
The memorial benches are now placed overlooking the Ross Fountain in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle, close to the Ross Bandstand – where Alan and his brother Derek first performed publicly as schoolboys at the weekly Saturday Show Time.
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
