Final 'fitting tribute' to tragic Kilmarnock dad as his sister pays tribute

A “fitting tribute” was paid to Kilmarnock musician Fraser McBride as friends and family gathered at a memorial concert last week.

Bandmates from the Symptoms, One Last Secret and 3 Hits took to the stage at The Park Hotel on Friday, September 6 to play a heartfelt tribute.

Fraser, 36, died earlier this year after being diagnosed with terminal Stage 4 Adrenal cancer last year while living in Boston, Massachusetts with his wife, Fionna, and son, Mac.

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In total, $8,725 was raised for the Fraser McBride Foundation which has been set up as a legacy to Fraser and his former colleagues at Scottish Power also raised £3,500 for Cancer Research UK.

Fiona McBride, Fraser’s sister, felt the night was a “fitting tribute” to her brother.

Speaking to Ayrshire Live, Fiona said: “It was an absolutely brilliant night, it couldn’t have gone any better.

“Everybody engaged, they were up dancing, it was just a fantastic night. Everyone was chatting, mixing and sharing stories.

“The guys that planned it did really well with it.

“It was a very fitting tribute to Fraser and he was at the centre of everything that was done that night. He would’ve hated being centre of attention, that was not what Fraser was like but it was very much a very fitting tribute.

“The guys from Abbey Road arranged for someone to go and video the whole night which was great because we are going to have the whole night on film in some way, shape or form.

“Kilmarnock’s Stevie Richmond who runs Coda productions generously provided all the sound and lighting for free due to his connections with Fraser.

“We also need to thank all those who gave generously with donations for the auction and the raffle to help us raise money for the Fraser McBride Foundation. The monies raised will be used to help cancer charities.”

The night started off with The Symptoms introducing their Abbey Road videos which were filmed in February with Fraser before 3 Hits and One Last Secret took to the stage.

After that, The Symptoms performed their set and the evening rounded off with Fiona on keyboard as the three bands got up onstage for a rendition of Caledonia - one of Fraser’s favourite Scottish songs.

Fraser’s wife Fionna had travelled over from the USA for the concert and a number of people had travelled far and wide to remember their friend.

Fiona added: “The Symptom’s set included part of a video from Abbey Road which they took over from which was quite good.

“The bands, who were obviously not very used to playing without Fraser, did really well. They did him proud.

“Folk travelled from all over, his wife came from Boston, Massachusetts along with one of his best friends who worked over there with him.

“There were folk from Asda, Scottish Power, folk who had been at school with him. An ex-work colleague drove all the way from London, he just wanted to be there. They came from all over to pay tribute to him and that’s exactly what happened.

“It was a fitting tribute to an absolutely fantastic, loving, beautiful and wonderful son, brother, father, husband and friend.”

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