In his line of duty as an animal “cruelty” officer, Calum Watt has rescued dogs, dolphins and even the occasional hamster.
But yesterday he achieved a noteworthy first – by rescuing a choir.
Stornoway-based Mr Watt stepped into the breach when illness struck the Tongue choir, and made his conducting debut at the Royal National Mod in Inverness.
Mr Watt, 54, said: “By the Mod rules there has to be a minimum of nine women in the choir and they were three short due to illness.
“When their usual conductor Tracy Gordon had to make up numbers as a singer I was asked if I could fill in as conductor.
“It is the first time I have been called on to rescue a choir, and since I started working with them two weeks ago they have been tremendous.
“I am an amateur musician but I have had some experience with brass bands when I worked in Aberdeen.”
Mr Watt, who sings with Back Gaelic choir added: “I like to think that it is all part of the spirit of the Mod and Gaelic, all pulling together to help each other.”
