For everyone who is fed up of hearing about the independence referendum later this month it was perhaps just what the doctor ordered.
Tipping buckets of ice water over the heads of Moray’s political leaders may not stop them harping on about Yes and No votes – but for one fleeting moment at least it cooled down the temperature.
Angus Robertson MP and his SNP colleague Richard Lochhead MSP were caught up in the craze that has raised millions for charity around the world.
Funding for research into Motor Neurone Disease and a raft of other research charities has seen a phenomenal boost from the world-wide ‘ice bucket challenge’, which started in the United States and quickly captured the imagination everywhere.
The challenge calls on people to either tip a bucket of ice water over their heads or make a donation to charity – or both. Each person challenged is asked to nominate at least three others to take the test – and that has led to estimates in excess of £50million being raised worldwide.
On Monday the Moray politicians took time out to cool down – and passed the ice buckets on to their nominees, for Mr Lochhead NFU Scotland’s Nigel Miller, Chef Tom Kitchin and Ian Urquhart, chair of Johnstons of Elgin.
Mr Robertson meanwhile invited RAF Lossiemouth CO Mark Chappell, 39 Engineer Regiment boss Tom Marsden and Elgin’s Hollywood superstar Kevin McKidd to face the deluge within 24 hours.