The last thing that I expected to be doing this year was standing on a stage in front of 300 people, singing Sinatra songs with my youngest daughter Sophia, but to quote Forrest Gump: "Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get."

Life has always been a bit like that in our household, especially since my wife, myself and our three beautiful daughters left the nomadic military life behind and settled in the Highlands. In our new adopted home, we have found that just like the military, being part of a close-knit community tends to present opportunities to help. The SNAP Stars in their Eyes fundraiser was a perfect example of this amazing community rallying round to help a great cause.

• PICTURES: Inverness Stars in their Eyes raises £33k for charity SNAP

• PICTURES: The top turns at 'Stars in their Eyes' fundraiser for Inverness children's charity SNAP

That two great people – Tony Story and Don Robertson – could have a chat over a glass of wine and, over the course of a few short months, create an event that raised £33,000, bears testimony to the spirit of the Highlands. It’s a place where folk rally around and happily give of their own time to support others. The contestants were all incredibly supportive of each other, we all did it for the cause and tried to have fun, even during the squeaky bottom time just before going on stage.

SNAP was of particular interest to us as we know the challenges presented when you have caring responsibilities as a family unit. I firmly believe that families who are blessed with children with disabilities are specially chosen for the love that they can give, for their patience and enduring commitment. But we are all human, we all need a break, the vital role played by respite provision like SNAP is incalculable in its benefit, it can quite literally be the adhesive that keeps families together.

From a personal perspective, commanding parades in front of royalty with of hundreds of words of command to remember was a breeze when compared to being on stage with Sophia and singing for less than four minutes. It was terrifying. The thing is, when I got up there and saw Sophia and my wife Tracey (honorary microphone holder for Sophia) an overwhelming sense of calm came over me. Sophia always says that she wants to inspire others with disabilities so that they can achieve anything, if you ever needed proof, then seeing her smiling on stage in front of a packed house should really have sealed the deal for you.

I guess I can’t write an article without mentioning my day job. I’ve been fortunate enough to have had some of the best roles imaginable, from thousands of hours flying jets in the RAF to special operations all over the world; but being chief executive of High Life Highland is the best of them all. Why? Because from leisure, to culture, to libraries, to active schools, to youth work, to adult learning, to archives, to music tuition, to museums, to visitor attractions – our single purpose as a charity, is to simply make life better in Highland communities by creating opportunities at an affordable price, what could be more worthwhile than that – except maybe SNAP?

Turning to the future, in spite of our successful debut on the Highlands entertainment scene, I haven’t had any calls from Les Kidger or Dougie Brown, so I expect that my own performance was a ‘one night only’ and it’s back to the weightlifting platform for me. That said, Alyn Ross, the musical director of the Inverness Military Wives Choir, has asked me to maybe do a wee turn at the annual Remembrance Concert in Inverness Cathedral in November, so if the Very Reverend Sarah Murray feels that the stained-glass is safe from my screeching, then I can think of no better time to make one more appearance than at the time when we remember absent friends.

Finally, Sophia has just auditioned and been accepted on to the books of the talent agency KR Management Scotland, so her time performing in the spotlight is only just beginning – watch this space.

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