Adjudicator Alma recalls medal win

Falkirk Herald - 6th October 2008

IT'S 50 years since Lewis singer Alma Jamieson won the Ladies Gold Medal at the National Mod in Glasgow – taking the coveted award at her first ever Mod!
And she will be heading to Falkirk for this year's event, not to compete, but to adjudicate at some of the competitions over a number of days.

Alma Kerr, as she was at the time, was only 18 years of age when she competed and came out on top at the 1958 Mod.

"I was very nervous as it was my first Mod, and the venue, St Andrew's Halls, was packed,'' she recalled.

''There were over 30 singers entered for both the men's and ladies' Gold Medal competitions. The standard was very high in both of these. I know that in the ladies' event any one of 20 singers could have won the medal. In fact many of those who competed in 1958 won the Gold Medal in later years."

Fifty years on, as well as adjudicating, Alma will be part of the presentation party at the Gold Medal finals.

"The Mod Committee has asked me to adjudicate on previous occasions, but being involved with so many singers in so many competitions, I have always turned it down,'' she said.

''However, I agreed to adjudicate in 2008, this being the 50th year since I won the Medal. I am looking forward to it."

Recording of Alma singing at the National Mod in 1958: Alma Kerr

Glasgow Herald 2nd October 1958 article can be seen here.

Ref:
http://www.falkirkherald.co.uk/mod-2008-preview/Adjudicator-Alma-recalls-medal-win.4562265.jp