The Draymin....playing for The Mary Leishman Foundation

Big shout out for this gig next week, The Draymin supported by Fridge Magnets will be playing The Glen Pavillion in Dunfermline with all proceeds going to a charity created by her friends called The Mary Leishman Foundation.  


The Foundation was created by her friends to celebrate the life of Mary Leishman (wife of Jim Leishman, former Dunfermline FC manager and more recently, Provost of Fife) who sadly, died of cancer in 2009.  It aims to grow as a registered charity giving funds throughout the country where they're required most.

Headlining the event will be local boys The Draymin supported by Glasgow band Fridge Magnets, do not miss it!

The Draymin are producing Indie Club Anthems worthy of any arena with the rasping vocals of Fraser Penman complimenting the rest of the bands big sound. Don't fade away would have any club jumpin' with memories of New Order's Blue Monday right at the end (least that's what the old man said).







Masters of electro-pop Fridge Magnets are here with a new set-list and lineup and are another example of a band with an eye on the bigger stages if not arenas. Got to love their punchy track The Death of Rock 'n' Roll, guaranteed to get the joint jumpin'.

So here's one of the gigs of the year where your hard earned beer tokens will be going to support a fantastic cause and help countless others.....be there or be proverbially square!  Now me old man says he was at school wi' Jim Leishman, but then again he says that about everyone famous I write about!  Me I'm knackered after a hard days bloggin' but I will be sellin' some of me Bonio (the biscuits no thon' auld Irish singer that saves trees) and sendin' a donation to the charity.  Maybe if I send him this he'll chip in a bit too!  Maybe I should edit the previous sentence first......hmmmmmm.

The life of Mary Leishman

Mary Leishman (nee Smith) was born in Dunfermline in 1955. Daughter of Kelty couple John and Lena, she was destined to be on the stage from the moment she was born. John and Lena were both lifelong members of the Kelty Musical Association, with John going on to become President and Lena the choreographer for decades to come.

Having been an annual leading lady in sell out shows at the Carnegie Hall every May, Mary met her own leading man in the shape of Jim Leishman, who was then a young footballer with local side Dunfermline Athletic. They went on to be married on the 24th February 1979 before having first daughter Kate and then son Jamie.

Mary was a proud family woman, raising the children whilst husband Jim was often in the media spotlight with a career in football management, along with numerous other engagements which took him the length and breadth of the country. A trained hairdresser, Mary also ran a local business before becoming a full time mother.

Her love of spending time with family and friends could be perfectly captured in the moments when she could entertain them at her home, with many a sing-along taking place as Mary played mine host!

Mary continued to be a leading lady on stage and Vice President of Kelty Musical until 2007, and had been the star of the show for countless thousands of spectators who enthused about her performances over the years.

Ill health started to affect Mary in 2008, and she was diagnosed with cancer in September that year. It was a disease she fought bravely against, but tragically lost her battle on 24th February 2009, aged just 53 and poignantly on her and Jim’s 30th wedding anniversary.

Jim and the foundation’s trustees have since set up The Mary Leishman Foundation whose aims are spelt out elsewhere on this website. The prime goal is to raise as much money as possible for local good causes, whilst remembering Mary’s contribution to the community who knew and loved her.