Brought up in the west of Scotland, educated in Glasgow and now living in Stirling, I have been a Blue Badge guide since 2006. A Life Member of the National Trust for Scotland since my 21st birthday and subsequently a Life Member of Historic Scotland (HES) I have been actively involved in the heritage and history of Scotland for many years. My early career took me to London where I became involved with the London Members’ Centre of the Trust and helped to organise trips and visits to Scotland. As a professional Tourist Guide, it has been a privilege to work with such a wide variety of visitors to Scotland including student groups visiting to improve their English; young musicians on a European tour; NADFAS and U3A groups; academics and international celebrities: Shakira and Diana Gabaldon amongst the better known. In 2005 I acquired an established tourist guiding business. Since then the company has grown to include an enviable client list. Every day brings fresh challenges and opportunities that make the effort worthwhile and the job so rewarding. One of the many joys of guiding has been to escort small groups of Scandinavian whisky enthusiasts to the island of Islay to experience and enjoy something that they had long dreamt of. To take devoted Presbyterians from the US on a pilgrimage to walk in the footsteps of John Knox has been a highlight of the growing interest in religious heritage. And, one of the most satisfying assignments was to put-together a romantic day-tour (with a luxury picnic) for a couple to set the scene so that he could “pop-the-question” – and he did. A result!.