George MacIlwham, who died last week at the age of 90, was perhaps Scotland’s best known flautist and an all-round musician, performer and composer who delighted audiences for more than 70 years. He was also a musician who considered Arran to be his second home and was equally at ease playing at an Arran village hall as in the Royal Albert Hall in London.
George MacIlwham, farthest from camera with the other Summer Serenade performers.
Piper, flautist and player of the piccolo, George in later years was one of four performers who set up the Summer Serenade at Corrie Church. Along with singer Jean Bowden, pianist and organist David Inglis, and raconteur (and much else besides) John Forgie, this began as a one-off concert in Corrie Hall around 1990. So successful was it that it became a summer fixture, two nights every July, and it attracted enthusiastic and devoted audiences until only a few years ago.