Celebrating the best in Elgin

By Alistair Whitfield

Published: 17:32, 25 October 2023

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Angela Chisholm, of St Giles Centre, won the individual accolate for Elgin Community Champion of the Year at the 2023 Elgin BID Awards...Picture: Daniel Forsyth..

Elgin's community champion this year is a woman who's helped to raise about £150,000 for charity during her time at the St Giles Centre.

Angela Chisholm was honoured at the Elgin BID Business Awards, held at the Ex-Servicemen's Club.

Having begun working at the shopping centre 30 years ago, Angela's official title nowadays is contracts manager, but she gets involved with far more besides.

Just last month a 1980s music-inspired bingo night she organised drummed up £2400 to share between the Archie Foundation and Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital.

Speaking about being crowned the town's community champion, she said: "I'm completely over the moon. No way was I expecting it, but I'm very honoured."

Winners from the Elgin BID Business Awards 2023. Picture: Beth Taylor.

Meanwhile, a former social worker who now feeds, as well as helps people, won Elgin Bid's customer service award.

Earlier this year Fiona Bruce, along with her partner Jenny O'Hare, set up the Moonstone Lounge on Elgin High Street.

As well as a café where folk can go to just eat and relax, more unusually it's also a place where they'll find someone willing to listen to them talk about the things in life that are troubling them.

Fiona said: "I love being able to speak to people.

"Taking the time to have a five-minute conversation can make all the difference to another person.

"It might sound a bit cheesy but we're doing our level best to bring the community together."

Andy Illston presenting the Ian Widdowson individual customer service award to Fiona Bruce. Picture: Beth Taylor.

For her efforts Fiona was given the Ian Widdowson Award, which bears the name of the Moray businessman who was tragically killed following a road accident in 2016.

Elgin BID's charity and community support services award was presented to Moray Reach Out.

Several members of the team have learning difficulties but do a great job recycling cans, plastic bottles and other items collected from people's purple bins.

John Divers presenting the charity, voluntary and community Group award to Mo Wishart and Anna Bebas from Moray Reach Out. Picture: Beth Taylor.

Retailer of the year went to JC Dawson, the popular butchers on Batchen Street.

As the awards are supported by the Northern Scot, this was handed over by Chris Saunderson, one of our two content editors.

Sound & Vision won the long-established business award, beating off Birnie's Pet Shop and The Northern Fish Restaurant, both on Elgin High Street, as well as Grigor & Young, plus Bijou on Batchen Street.

It's been 43 years since Vic Flett set up a music store in the town.

Graham Flett works at Sound & Vision with hid dad Vic. The music shop won the long-established business award. Picture: Daniel Forsyth.

Vic, who moved the business to its present address on South Street three decades ago, said: "I'm surprised that we won but very happy.

"It's a big boost both to me and to the staff here.

"Some people think that having a music shop must be a bit of a jolly – that we just sit around playing guitars all day.

"But that's not the reality. It is enjoyable but it's also a lot of hard work."

The hair and beauty award went to Beautique Nails and Beauty, while North East Financial Planning, who are also on Elgin High Street, were the local professional services winners.

Lee Midlane presenting the local professional services award to North East Financial Planning's Darren MacDonald.

Elgin BID named its David Urquhart New Business Award in honour of the Gordon & MacPhail whisky legend who lost his fight with cancer in 2015.

Its recipient this year was the children's amusement centre Toy Toon, beating off strong competition from both Nelly Bo's, which is also on the High Street, and Margo Fashion in Commerce Street.

The Bake Project, the bakers on Commerce Street, collected the hospitality and tourism award.

Winners of the national banking category were the Royal Bank of Scotland. Picture: Daniel Forsyth.

Meanwhile, the national banking award was given to Royal Bank of Scotland.

Nathan Snyder, the branch manager, said: "The team here and myself are absolutely delighted to have received this, especially as it voted on by the community, and because we all live as well as work here."

South Street Dental Practice received the award in the health, fitness and social care category.