On Friday 13th March at the MNDS Corn Flower Ball in the Grand Central Hotel there will be a framed portrait signed by Fernando Ricksen for auction. This was painted by an S5 pupil at Coltness High School in Wishaw who has no football affiliations but was so taken by the Fernando's plight that when asked by the Head Teacher and Art Department she was quite happy to use her talents for a good cause. Anyone who is interested in bidding for the original piece of Art work but who cannot attend the ball should contact MNDS direct on 0141 945 1077 and make arrangements for someone to bid on your behalf or for the ability to do a phone bid.
For those who like the portrait but don't want to shell out such a fee there is an opportunity to buy an A3 print of the picture on fine art paper, which has a texture to it, making it almost look like the real thing. There will be a limited run of these produced and anyone wishing to purchase these can do so via the MNDS online shop between now and the 31st May 2015. The cost of these is £30 and they will be number to authentic the limited edition nature of the run. These can be bought on the MNDS website via their online shop at http://www.mndscotland.org.uk/products/fernando-ricksen-print/ All profit from these will go straight to MNDS.
As an interesting aside Coltness High School has a short history of links with Rangers Football Club. Roger Hynd who had a goal chalked off in the 1967 ECWC Final against Bayern Munich finished his career at the school as a PE Teacher in 2004 and a signed replica jersey from this final is about to be put up in the school's "Hall of Fame". Former youth player Andrew Barrowman, who currently plays for Dunfermline, and has had spells at Birmingham, Kilmarnock and ICT to name but a few attended the school around 15 years ago. Lewis MacLeod is also a former pupil of the school having attended here around four years ago. Finally in terms of a current link a boy in S1 is having trials with the club!
