The founder of Glasgow’s Cathouse and The Garage recounted he had knocked back a few drinks at a charity auction.Night Club boss Donald MacLeod outside the famous Garage night spot in Glasgow

Nightlife king Donald Macleod has told how he once bought a boat at a charity auction and didn’t remember until it turned up in his driveway.

The founder of Glasgow’s Cathouse and The Garage nightspots has revealed that he splashed out £12,500 on a Zapcat racing boat at a Scottish music Awards (SMAs) fundraiser after he’d knocked back a few drinks.

Donald helped set up the event to raise money for the pioneering music therapy charity Nordoff and Robbins.

Zapcat Boat racing Anglesey Grand Prix

And as chairman of the charity’s Scottish Fundraising and Events Committee he has spent decades raising cash to help thousands of people across the country through the power of music.

And as well as unwittingly buying boats, his charity antics include once trying to flog a top-of-the-range mountain bike with a flat tyre in front of bemused singer Annie Lennox.

Donald Macleod receiving his MBE – with wife Pauline

Donald, who was awarded an MBE for services to Music and Charity in 2020, is now celebrating 25 years with the group but says helping support sick Scots is his biggest achievement.

He said: “Music is so incredibly powerful, it can make you feel happy, a song can trigger a good memory and the work the charity does is just vital to so many people.

“It is so important that we are able to continue to offer people that power when they need it most.

“The charity has a real impact on people’s lives, having visited therapy centres and places like CHAS hospice Rachel House and seeing the great work being done.

“And of course there have been some cracking laughs over the years, including the time I bought a boat.

“I then forget about it until the doorbell went and the delivery guy says, ‘Where do you want me to put the boat?’

“I said, ‘What f****** boat?’ and he said, ‘That f****** boat over there.’

“I looked and there was this Zapcat stunt boat with a big massive engine in the back.

“He said, ‘Remember? When you were at the awards, you bought that.’

“During my auctioneering days, I also remember cycling around the dance floor on a fancy £8000 mountain bike with a flat tyre and Annie Lennox just sitting there looking at me like, ‘Who is this clown?’

“But the charity’s work is incredibly important, every note counts and I’ll do what it takes.”

Donald Macleod with Paolo NutiniDonald Macleod with Jim Kerr of Simple Minds

This year’s GUITARGUITAR Scottish Music Awards ceremony will be held on November 8 at the Barrowland Ballroom.

Since its inception in 1998, the Awards – originally known as the Tartan Clefs – have gone on to celebrate the work of an array of talented musicians, artists and bands and raised over £1million.

Donald said: “Over the years at the awards we’ve had Shirley Manson, Rod Stewart, Simple Minds, GUN, Biffy Clyro and Beluga Lagoon, who blew me away last year.

“We’ve also got breakthrough artists and new talent and it’s a great platform to go on stage at the iconic, world-famous Glasgow Barrowlands stage.

“I love all the bands for giving us their time but they want to support the charity. Anyone who has been to these sessions, they are marked by it and it stays with them.”