So here I am, the fourth year rebel, who
was determined to escape the confines of our teenage years and
hop off to pastures new. I think I was anticipating the 60's and
feminism before they actually arrived! Well, I got my wish and
spent a year in commercial college in Edinburgh at a very young
age and then joined Ferranti Ltd as an office worker. It was an
exciting time in the development of aircraft navigation systems
and to this day I don't know what the Official Secrets Act would
allow me say about that. Suffice to say that there was lots of
fun and the chief test pilot, Pasco Watson, was married to Margaret
Hamilton, daughter of Hamilton's the drapers in Tain. One of the
memorable events was when he drove his bubble car up the steps
into the George Hotel in Edinburgh at one of the Company's annual
dances. Bungies was a great night spot on the Royal Mile and trad
jazz was enjoying its revival along with Ol Blue Eyes. What days
to look back on!
I married in 1963 and my daughter Catriona was born in 1966 and
son Gavin in 1968. I spent those years looking after the family
but in spring 1974 we were living in Tillicoultry near Stirling
and with both children at primary school I went to the University
of Stirling and asked for a job and got one, albeit a temporary
post. By the autumn that year I was happily ensconced in a permanent
admin post in the Department of Sociology and from then I went
on to work administratively on new projects within the social
sciences including the fields of domestic violence and dementia
services. I served as secretary to our trade union (NALGO as it
was in those days) and worked with Jack McConnell when he served
as President of the Student Union for two years during the major
cuts to university funding which started in 1983. Oh happy days!
What with demos in London and picking off Nicholas Fairbairn MP
(does anyone remember him of the poncey gear?) it was a great
time! Sadly, my marriage ended in 1976 (although we all remained
in close touch until John's death five years ago).
In 1978 I met Donald, and we married in 1980. He has been a soul
mate and partner since then and, having become a student support
worker in my day job, working to assist students through any kind
of problem they face, including nasty academics wielding the rule
book at them, I went on to warden in halls of residence with Donald's
excellent support. For eight years we lived in hall with around
250 new students for 30 weeks each year, riding out academic,
personal and health crises and even, very sadly in our last year
but one, student death.
By 1999 I had unbelievably served 25 years at the University and
we decided it was time to take off for pastures new. We headed
here to Dumfries and Galloway where we have developed new interests
and Donald does a lot of voluntary work with an art gallery (Broughton
House in Kircudbright) and also works in its beautiful garden.
I have found myself busy doing bits of work on a local estate
and also with a Camphill Community at Beeswing.
My daughter Catriona is now a GP in Kirkcudbright and is married
to Alistair. They have two children, Ellen who is almost four
and Laura who is thirteen months. Gavin spent ten years in the
Royal Navy and is now an engineer with BT in the Peterborough
area. He and his wife Fiona have two children, Nicole who is 9
and Daniel who is 7.
I can't believe that we are all going to meet up again. As I live
in Burn's country:
Here's tae us
Wha's like us?
Best wishes to everyone and what amazing stories people have to
tell.
Dorothy