WATCH: Ross-shire life in Lockdown – Liam Christie's story

Click here to sign up to our free newsletters!

A ROSS-SHIRE events promoter has turned his hand to delivering shopping for a supermarket after his business was 10 days away from closing.

Liam Christie is better known for putting on some very popular events around the Highlands, but due to to the coronavirus pandemic almost overnight all the gigs, events and festivals he was due to promote and stage, with wife and business partner Lorraine, were cancelled.

But Liam (50) has taken to his new temporary job as a Tesco delivery driver with as much passion as he normally has for the shows he puts on through his company North Highland Events and Promotions.

Proving the music has not left him, he has even penned lyrics to take him around his delivery patch on the Black Isle.

After posting a video of himself on Facebook singing along to The Proclaimer's hit I'm On My Way he has become something of a celebrity.

Liam said: "I feel like a celebrity, one lady even asked me for a selfie.

"I have changed words to songs for years and it is a bit of laugh, but this has really taken off.

"The Oke from Munlochy, a take on Willie Nelson's Okie from Muskogee, didn't ever ready these heady heights.

"I am now known as the singing Tesco driver."

Liam's deliveries start at the Dingwall branch of Tesco, but take him all over the region.

As a Ross County fan, I'm on my Way is already Liam's anthem, and it was covered by rockers Torridon, so is never far from his heart.

Liam said: "Needs must, but I can honestly say it has been a privilege.

"I knew a very good friend of ours who told me that they were looking for drivers, and I applied.
"The work is about getting shopping to the people that need it. Out and about and delivering it makes you think about all the folks. The people that you meet are some of the most vulnerable at this time.

"Apart from the postie, I can be the only person that someone sees from week to week. It is my my nature to be cheery. So it is lovely to have a laugh and giggle with people, socially distanced of course.

"Lots of people are in a worse situation that we are. It is just me and Lorraine and the two dogs at home – Meg and Molly."

Things for Liam and Lorraine's business is looking a little brighter as they have been accepted for a business Bounce Back loan and they hope as soon as the lockdown is over to be back to bringing events such as the Embo Country Music Weekend and Hooley in the Highlands.

If you want to sing along, here are all the words to the song...

The all new delivery song in a Proclaimers Stylieeee!

I'm On My Way

I'm on my way with your messages to happiness today

I'm on my way with your messages to happiness today

I'm on my way with what you may have ordered

And weeks from now you'll stack up all your cupboards

The order slots are few in isolation

And substitutes are the nearest to the same thing

I took a right, I took a right turning yesterday

I took a left, I took a left turning yesterday

I took the road that brought me to your home town

I took the van to streets that are in lock down

I walked the streets to find the house I'd looked for

I climbed the stairs that led me to your front door

And now that you don't want for anything

I'd have Boris Johnson sing we're sitting on top of the world

I'll do my best, I'll do my best to do the best I can

I'll do my best, but I might be late there in my van

To keep my feet, from jumping on the brake dear

To keep my hands, firmly on the steering wheel

To keep the cars, the cars that can't get by me

They curse and swear and I stay really smiley

And now that you don't want for anything

I'd have Boris Johnson sing we're sitting on top of the world

I'm on my way with your messages to happiness today

I'm on my way with your messages to happiness today

I'm on my way with the toilet roll you ordered

And days from now you'll be glad we bothered

And everything, you receive there in your order

Is what they gave to me today and we're honoured

I'm on my way with the vodka that you ordered

And days from now you'll still be blootered

And everything, you receive there in your order

Is what they gave to me to deliver and we're honoured

If you would like to tell your story in lockdown, contact reporter Louise Glen on louise.glen@hnmedia.co.uk, or phone 01463 233059, or text WhatsApp 07496491030 or message her through the newspaper's Facebook page by clicking here.

---

Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.

---