This is the moment Nicola Sturgeon stopped during her weekly shop in Asda – to conduct a brass band playing Christmas tunes for charity.
Musicians said Scotland’s First Minister was in the Dunfermline supermarket with her husband Peter Murrell when she spotted the Lochgelly Band and stopped to praise their talents.
They said she jumped at the chance to conduct the six-piece with a video showing her waving her arms in the shop.
Dressed in festive red, the SNP leader hopped up and down on the spot as the band played the festive tune.
Mrs Sturgeon requested the brass band play Jingle Bells and one musician then shouted out: “Why don’t you conduct it?”
Aisla McIntosh, band secretary and cornet player, said the SNP leader seemed “quite happy and upbeat” and posed for selfies before getting on with her shop.
The 26-year-old said: “I was totally shocked to see her, as it’s not every day that you get to meet the First Minister – let alone in an Asda.
“She was with her husband at the time, I think they were just stopping to pick something up for tea on their way home.
“To be honest, she just said ‘hello’ – and said how nice it was to see a brass band.
“We asked her if she had a song request, and when she came back with Jingle Bells someone in the band suggested – ‘why don’t you conduct it?’.
“She seemed on good form, in really good spirits.”
The 165-year-old Lochgelly Band are one of the oldest brass outfits in Scotland.
Ailsa McIntosh, Brian Sullivan, Stuart Sangster, Shona Moffat, Ron Rye and Neil McCormack performed from 11am until 3pm in the shop on the day.
A spokesperson for the group added: “The band were delighted to run into the First Minister on Saturday, and even more so that she took the time to stop and indulge us as a guest conductor, when she was just in Asda for her tea!
“We love to get out and about at Christmas, and this really has been the highlight of our carolling season so far.
“As a registered charity it’s crucial for us to get out and about in the local community, especially as we’re currently fundraising for essential renovations to ensure our band hall is compliant with health and safety standards.”
Mrs Sturgeon tweeted: “If you look carefully at this video you can see @PeterMurrell
pretending not to be with me. Thanks to the wonderful Lochgelly Brass Band and @asda Dunfermline for some festive fun on Saturday.”
The Lochgelly Band will be performing in various supermarkets before their annual Christmas Concert in Lochgelly on December 21.
