On Friday 27 September, Murdostoun Neurological Care Centre in North Lanarkshire came alive with excitement as they hosted their first-ever “Murdfest” — a vibrant festival celebrating everything that makes Murdostoun special. From live music and entertainment to delicious food and fun activities, the day was packed with joy, laughter, and a true sense of community.
The festivities kicked off in high gear, quite literally, with a visit from the Clyde Valley Harley Davidson Club. The thunderous roar of motorbikes signalled the start of the event, much to the delight of everyone present. A particularly special moment was when Cath Dickson, our longest-serving staff member, ticked off a dream from her bucket list by sitting on one of the Harley bikes. It was an unforgettable experience for Cath and a fitting way to begin the day’s celebrations.
Next up was a spectacular performance by a local Irish dancing group. Their high-energy precision dancing, accompanied by live fiddle music, was enjoyed by everyone. The talented group performed flawlessly before heading off to Aberdeen for a national competition, leaving everyone in awe and wishing them all the best.
As the day progressed, Murdfest kept up the momentum with a set from “The Noise,” an in-house band formed specifically for the event. This collaborative musical effort was led by Cammy, a music therapy student, along with our Speech and Language Therapist (SALT), Eimar, and three patients. Their medley of songs brought smiles to faces and showcased the talent and creativity that thrives within their community.
The spirit of Murdfest wasn’t confined to just one area. In the gardens, one of our former patients led a peaceful meditation session, offering a calming retreat among the excitement. Later, they joined performed a short comedy routine, spreading even more laughter.
Live karaoke soon followed, giving residents, staff, and visitors a chance to show off their vocal skills. The star of the show? None other than our very own Hospital Director, Michael Sneddon, who wowed the crowd with an impressive Johnny Cash impersonation that had everyone cheering!
The food at Murdfest was another highlight. A barbecue ran throughout the day, and there was no shortage of hungry guests eager to try the delicious offerings. The barbecue was so popular that people were queuing up all day long, and many even took food home to enjoy later!
For the younger attendees, there was no shortage of fun activities, including making personalised coasters, balloon shaping, and playing giant games in the garden. A raffle was held, with Managing Director, Annie Booth, taking home a hamper of wine as one of the lucky winners. To top it all off, Annie even had the chance to ride off into the sunset on one of the Harleys — talk about a perfect ending.
Murdfest was truly a day to remember, filled with joy, laughter, and everyone had a fabulous day! We can’t wait for next year’s Murdfest, and the team are already looking forward to making it even bigger and better.
A big thank you to everyone who helped make this event a huge success — they couldn’t have done it without you. Here’s to celebrating life, community, and all that is good at Murdostoun!
For more information about Murdostoun, please visit their webpage.
