John Clark Motor Group staged an exclusive charity dinner at the Great Hall of Edinburgh Castle on 7th May 2026 to support Race Against Dementia, bringing together figures from sport, business, entertainment and medical research to raise awareness and funds.
The dramatic silhouette of Edinburgh Castle served as the backdrop for a high-profile fundraising evening when John Clark Motor Group hosted an exclusive charity dinner in aid of Race Against Dementia. Held on 7th May 2026 in the castle’s rarely used Great Hall, the gathering blended historic ambience with modern urgency to spotlight the global challenge of dementia.
The event combined a formal dinner, after-hours cultural access and a programme of speeches from leading figures across sport, entertainment and science. Guests enjoyed a unique opportunity to view the Honours of Scotland and were treated to a private performance by The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, creating a memorable capstone to a night focused on research and collaboration.
Venue and atmosphere: a historic setting for a contemporary cause
The Great Hall, completed in 1511 for King James IV, is not typically used for private dining. On this occasion, Major General Bob Bruce, the Governor of Edinburgh Castle, graciously made the space available, allowing attendees to experience Scotland’s history while supporting a modern medical cause.
The juxtaposition of age-old stonework and a forward-looking charitable mission underscored the evening’s theme: honouring the past while racing toward future breakthroughs.
Speakers and stories: high performance meets scientific ambition
Broadcaster Caroline Blair led proceedings, guiding conversations that highlighted resilience, teamwork and determination. The line-up included Sir Jackie Stewart, whose charity Race Against Dementia applies the precision and collaborative speed of Formula One to medical research. Sir Jackie delivered a keynote that connected his career in motorsport with his personal commitment to accelerating progress against dementia.
Sporting perspectives
High-profile athletes shared insights on performance under pressure. Cycling icon Sir Chris Hoy, endurance cyclist Mark Beaumont, and Formula One figure Allan McNish contributed personal reflections on discipline and risk management. Rugby internationals Duhan van der Merwe and Pierre Schoeman spoke about the mindset needed to compete at elite levels and how that mentality can translate into focused support for scientific endeavours.
Voices from entertainment and hospitality
Contributors from the arts and hospitality—including actor Craig McGinlay, actor David O’Hara, comedian Fred MacAulay, and chef Dean Banks—added human stories and community context. Their participation reinforced how research benefits from broad cultural engagement, not only scientific investment. Each speaker offered a different angle on why backing research matters to families and communities.
Research focus: speed, collaboration and innovation
Central to the evening was an emphasis on the need for accelerated and collaborative research. Professor Siddharthan Chandran, a leading regenerative neurologist, outlined ongoing work at the UK Dementia Research Institute and explained how targeted funding and cross-disciplinary approaches can catalyse new therapies. His remarks stressed the importance of early career researchers and the structures that allow novel ideas to move quickly from concept to clinic.
Race Against Dementia’s model
Race Against Dementia was presented as a model that borrows from the high-performance world: rapid iteration, teamwork and strict performance metrics. The charity backs early-career scientists—known as RAD Fellows—to pursue bold, time-sensitive projects. By funding these fellows, the organisation aims to reduce the time it takes for promising laboratory discoveries to reach patients.
Why collaboration matters
The event underscored that breakthroughs rarely occur in isolation. Speakers highlighted partnerships between clinicians, researchers and industry as crucial to translating discoveries into treatments. Attendees were reminded that philanthropic contributions and strategic networking can remove barriers and accelerate development paths.
Organiser statements and wider impact
John Clark OBE, Chair of John Clark Motor Group and trustee of Race Against Dementia, reflected on the evening’s impact: bringing together leaders from diverse fields in one of Scotland’s most iconic locations created powerful momentum for the cause. He praised the high-performance ethos championed by Sir Jackie Stewart and emphasised that each conversation and contribution on the night helps drive research forward.
Beyond fundraising, the gathering aimed to raise public awareness about dementia, a condition affecting tens of millions globally, and to reinforce the message that speedy, collaborative research offers a promising route toward treatments. The blend of historic setting, cultural highlights and expert speakers made the dinner a distinctive platform for advocacy and action.
About the organisations
John Clark Motor Group is a family-owned automotive retailer with a stated commitment to community and charitable causes. The company supports initiatives that deliver tangible benefits to local and national communities. Race Against Dementia, founded by Sir Jackie Stewart, focuses on funding innovative early-career researchers to pursue dementia treatments with the speed and teamwork inspired by motorsport.
The castle dinner demonstrated how private-sector hosts, cultural institutions and research leaders can work together to create meaningful momentum in the fight against dementia, combining heritage, hospitality and hard science in service of a shared goal.
