Craig Pike, a partner at Ledingham Chalmers in Aberdeen, has launched a new show entitled Pikey’s Daily Dose of Doric. Throughout February he is performing in aid of Alzheimer Scotland by singing, reading poems and performing comedy sketches, all of which will be uploaded to Facebook.

Mr Pike has already raised more than £2,000.

The private client expert, who is also chairman of Aberdeen Performing Arts, said: “Since last March people all over the world have been fundraising for various causes in many different ways.

“Alzheimer’s is an illness that has affected both mine and my wife’s side of the family, watching how people can suffer from the condition made me want to help however I could.

“Working as a solicitor I have a lot of elderly clients who need my help to sort out their affairs, trying to help people who have just been diagnosed and witnessing the journey they have.

“You can see the impact it can have on them as a person and their family, and I wanted to help out.

“Another part of this is the effect that coronavirus has had on people, many have seen their condition worsen and have found it particularly challenging to cope.”

He added: “I’m pretty overwhelmed at the interest and support so far for this, but I’m delighted that a good amount will be raised for charity.”

Mr Pike was brought up in a family in which “music and performing were instilled in us”. His mother, Eileen, was a member of a Scottish dance band for almost 30 years – “the resident band for the Royal Family at Balmoral and Birkhall”.

At Aberdeen University he began performing in an annual charity event – the Student Show – which celebrates its centenary this year. It kindled in him a passion for acting – as well as for the language of the north-east.

“[The Student Show] played a huge role in getting me involved fully in the performing arts, and in particular in the local language of the north-east of Scotland – the Doric. I played several roles in Student Shows as well as in other productions with many other groups locally over the years. I have also been director and musical director for many shows over the past 25 years and really enjoy being involved in that process.”

It was during his involvement in the event that he and a group of friends banded together to create comedy troupe The Flying Pigs.

“We have performed regularly over the past 25 years or so in and around Aberdeen, as well as completing three series for BBC Radio Scotland and also having produced a TV pilot for BBC Scotland.”

While The Flying Pigs’ performances have inevitably been delayed – their show scheduled for last June will now run in September 2022 – Mr Pike has been able to lend a helping hand to the NHS, having been involved “in creating information videos for NHS Grampian in trying to assist them in reinforcing the coronavirus rules”.

One of the distinguishing features of the performances has been the “liberal dose of the Doric language”, which Mr Pike and his fellow troupe members are trying to preserve and which his new show will give viewers a taste of.

If you would like to help Mr Pike raise money for Alzheimer Scotland, visit his JustGiving page.