THE Rosneath peninsula community has been thanked for helping to save a couple’s wedding day after they were left without a band – just two days before walking down the aisle.

Ilsa Pole's daughter Rose, 29, met her husband Myles Mears, 30, through mutual friends, and the pair were set to marry in Craigrownie Castle, surrounded by family and friends, on October 21.

They thought everything was organised ahead of the big day. But a week before the wedding, the couple were left in the lurch by the musician who was due to play at the wedding.

After thinking they had found an alternative, that arrangement also collapsed, meaning that two days before the celebrations were set to take place they had no musician or band.

But Ilsa had ordered wine from the village Co-op for the big day – and when going to collect, it happened to ask the girl serving her if she knew of any local musicians.

She didn’t but advised that Ilsa post on the ‘Rosneath Community News’ page on Facebook.

Ilsa told the Advertiser: “I had been to a butcher’s in Kilcreggan too, and the post office, and the staff were lovely, they gave me a list of names and I started calling.

“Someone from the Rosneath Community News page phoned and also gave me contact details for people who might be able to help.

“The day before the wedding I received a call from Kirsten Easdale, a singer who had seen the post.

“She said she would make some calls for us and about 20 minutes later rang back to say she had found someone.

“Not only did she help us find someone, she offered to put the band up so we didn’t have to worry about last minute accommodation.”

Kirsten, a musician from Rosneath, was made aware of Ilsa’s Facebook plea by her partner Steve, and phoned Ilsa to see if she had a band before making any calls.

Kirsten said: “I didn’t hold out much hope of finding anyone I knew who would be available at such short notice, especially on a Saturday.

“However it really would be no problem for me to phone, and ask some of my colleagues. I could tell that Ilsa was, understandably, panicking a wee bit, so I really hoped that I would be able to help.

“As I suspected, no one I know, was available, however Scott Harvey was recommended to me by accordionist Frazer McLellan.

“Fortunately, Scott and his accordionist were available, and they both live in Glasgow, so they didn’t have far to travel to Cove.

“I then telephoned Ilsa to let her know the good news. I could hear the relief in her voice. I was very happy that such a small act on my part, meant that Ilsa had one less thing to worry about, on the day before her daughter’s wedding.”

Scott’s ceilidh band agreed to play, coming to the rescue of the wedding.

Ilsa explained that Myles’ friends from America had arrived for the wedding, and having the ceilidh band “made the day all the more special” because everyone came together to take part in the dances.

She said: “The band were brilliant, it made such a difference, we taught the American’s the dances and it just brought everyone together.

“We were all so blown away by the help we received from the Rosneath and wider community, 65 people shared the post and those who were unable to help directly offered words of congratulations.

“Complete strangers helped out and thanks to the community, Kirsten and Scott’s ceilidh band, we all had a lovely day.”

The happy couple, who are currently on their honeymoon in Mexico, said they were “blown away” by the help they received and extended their thanks to everyone for helping to make their day special.