Dear Folks,

Welcome to our web page—please excuse any errors. 

Now, how can I cram our lives into this small page – well here goes!!

After studying at Dundee Technical College, now Abertay University, and qualifying as a chartered quantity surveyor in 1963, I stayed in Broughty Ferry until the end of 1969 and then set off on my travels.  I joined the Ministry of Overseas Development and went to the Bahamas, supposedly for 18 months to set up a quantity surveying department for the Bahamas Government.  This tour eventually lasted for 8 years during which time I achieved the exalted position of Assistant Director of Public Works for the Ministry of Works & Utilities in Nassau, but it was impossible to become Director because of obvious reasons!!  While there, I was elected onto a Steering Committee for Foreign State Visits, including those of monarchs and presidents from throughout the world.  My efforts were recognised when, in 1978, I received from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, during a visit to Buckingham Palace in November of the same year accompanied by Linda and my mother, the MBE for "Services to the British Community in the Bahamas". 

We left Nassau when Linda was about to have Mark and I joined a London practice of Chartered Surveyors as Resident Partner based in Doha, State of Qatar, in the Arabian Gulf.  This was to be another 18 month contract, but lasted for 10 years during which time Nicola was born.  After an exceptionally happy time in the Middle East, we moved back to UK to a small village in Stirlingshire (Fintry) in 1988 and I then joined a Glasgow practice of quantity surveyors as partner. After about 3 years  I decided that “enough was enough” and we parted company – shortly after the practice went into liquidation!  

In March 1992 I joined Inverclyde Council, based in Greenock and was Head of Technical Services till March 1999 when I was forced to take early retirement due to a rather torrid time with M.E.  Glad to report that now all is well and I am filling in my time, between golf (present handicap 6), and as a business development consultant and adviser for a demolition contractor who I have dealt with over the years.  Working 3 days a week suits me very well!

On the more personal side of things, our life is good.  Linda and I met on a “blind date” in Aberdeen in March 1973.  We married in December 1974 in Aberdeen and Linda joined me in Nassau. 

Mark, our son, was born in 1977 and he is now a Flight Lieutenant hoping to qualify soon as a Tornado fast jet weapon systems officer in the RAF, based at Lossiemouth.  He and his girlfriend, Jo, now live in Elgin.  He had 2½ years at Strathclyde University, after leaving Balfron High School, but decided that Uni life was not for him. 

Nicola, born in 1979, lives in Fintry with husband James and sons, Jamie now 4 and Kyle who was born on 22nd June, 2006. 

Linda, a few years my junior, hails from Aberdeen, although born in Glasgow and seems to manage to keep me order – if that’s possible!!  She plays a little golf but as I don’t seem to appreciate ladies on the golf course, I spend quite a lot of time with my colleagues at Balmore Golf Club not too far from home and where I am a past Captain. 

In 1997, when I was troubled with M.E. we moved from Fintry to Bridge of Weir,  by Glasgow Airport, to be nearer my place of work and now that that isn’t an issue, we moved in March 2004 to Bearsden, on the outskirts of Glasgow – supposedly our last move!!

Best Regards to All

Ian