As I move into the next exciting chapter
of my life adventure, I’ve taken time to think about the wonderful people who
have accompanied me this far.
Each will receive a personal certificate and a mounted print of a painting (see above) commissioned to mark the occasion.
Below is a summary.
1. Edward is the first friend I remember. We were next-door neighbours in Zambia and inseperable from the age of eight to ten. Edward’s dad had a job I was never quite sure of, but it meant we could roam the bush and townships with impunity - or perhaps it was his omnipresent dog that secured our passage. Together, we poked deadly snakes with sticks, introduced ourselves to dogs foaming at the mouth with rabies, rode our bikes through fields of maize and threw ‘earth bombs’ with deadly accuracy at people who called us names. I often wonder what became of my little companion.
2. Sandra is my most enduring friend. Having met in primary school, we share a love of the mountains, and as teenagers, had many adventures together. We lost touch after college but re-established contact a few years ago and now ding messages back and forth, and enjoy the occasional day on the hill. She has always served as an example of a genuinely nice person, and I’m so lucky to have her as part of my life.
3. Kevin was my mucker at Boroughmuir High School. He joined a little later than me and lived in my neighbourhood. We met each morning by the post office on Morningside Road, walked to and from school, and when the time came, he risked life and limb on the back of my
motorbike: an undertaking he kept from his parents.
We shared an odd
sense of humour, emulating aristocrats to reluctant amusement of our teachers.
Kevin displayed nothing but
goodness: cheerful, friendly, loyal and untethered by cliques. I recently
discovered that he died a few years ago and I’m not ashamed to say that I cried
at his loss. How I wish we had kept in better touch. I miss you, pal.
4. I met Chris in my final years at school when his family decided to try their hand at living in Scotland. At first, we clashed; I think we were too similar. However, once that was sorted we had amazing adventures climbing throughout Scotland, which included being benighted in Clachaig Gully and getting as close as I’d ever want to get to being buried by an avalanche.
He is what I call a ‘noisy wild man,’ and it didn’t take
much for us to lead each other astray. At a time when we were hell-bent on
self-destruction, we always looked out for one another. Had we not, I doubt
either of us would have survived.
Alas, the Scottish weather did for him - or perhaps it was me - and returned to whence he came. Thanks to the digital world, we keep in touch
with me sending tantalising pictures of Glencoe.
5. I met Mike at college and we have been great friends ever since. Such is our empathy that he knows when I phone without me announcing myself – or perhaps I’m the only one who calls! Mike is the person in my life with whom I can share anything. We've stuck together through the better and darker parts of both our lives and we each know the other is the first port of call in a difficult spot.
6. Laura was a colleague at the University of Strathclyde and is a great friend. We clicked straight away: chatting, sharing stories about what we are up to and inspiring each other. She is also a person I can sound off when things weren’t right and provides good counsel. How lucky am I!
7. I’ve known Richard for a few years and he’s always up for an adventure. He’s also one of the most helpful people I know. When the world seemed against me, his attitude was, “Let's see what we can do to get you back on your feet.” What a nice guy to be able to call a friend.
8. John is summariswd as motorbikes, beer -although he now prefers single malt - good chats and an outlook on life I truly appreciate. We’ve known each other since school, pretty much enjoy the same type of things and will stay friends forever.
9. Ken is amazing; a great guy and accomplished climber who I first met when I was twelve years old. I was looking for direction, and although he doesn’t recall it, he shared ideas as to walks I could do in the Pentland Hills.
Forty-five years later, he came back into my life drawing the beautiful illustrations for my book. I wonder what would have become of the wee boy Oliver without his supportive words all those years ago. He has a special place in my history.
10. Mrs Ford was my English teacher during my early years at secondary school. I was terrible at reading and writing; however, Mrs Forde was an inspiration. She sorted out my basics – sort of – and lent me her copy of A Scots Quair – not an easy read at that age, but I loved it!
Mrs Ford told my mum, "Oliver can be anything he wants to be in life". What fantastic belief to have in a pupil. After so many years of doing
other things, I have now fallen in love with writing, and thank Mrs Ford for planting
the seed.
11. Johnny was a revered Scottish climber and one of my teen idols.
On leaving school I secured a place at a college
where John worked; however, it meant leaving my closely-knit group of friends
and my beloved Scotland.
I recall driving down the M62 into Liverpool, seeing a
landscape devoid of anything other than high rise flats, and thinking, “I don’t
want to be here.” Indeed, things didn’t go well and I found myself wondering
whether it was turning into a boorach.
The one bright spot was that I had been assigned John as my
tutor.
Sensing something amiss, he called me to his office. Perhaps
it was to receive a bollocking but it didn’t feel that way. He listened
patiently as I tried to explain the unexplainable, and when his turn came,
he spoke as though we were fellow climbers on some Scottish mountain. I felt that he
liked me at a time when I wasn't sure I liked myself. Of course, he was my hero
so I listened to every word he said.
I left his office with much to think about, and although I still
desperately missed Scotland, under his watchful eye I settled into the course
and completed it.
A sad footnote to this is that he died not long afterwards,
but I think of him often and thank him for taking interest in, “The daft wee laddie,”
as he called me.
12. Ollie took a punt and offered me my first job as an outdoor instructor; a week teaching canoeing. However, that week turned into two seasons. It was a career-best: out on the Firth of Forth, making great friends and learning like crazy to achieve a plethora of qualifications.
He was an amazing guy to work for. With high standards, he expected you to have the same. However, his greatest attribute was putting trust in us, and knowing this, we didn’t let him down.
As though that wasn’t enough, it was he who put my name forward
for my next career move working for Barry.
13. Barry was an entrepreneur and life adventurer. Aged twenty-three, I arranged to meet him for an interview on my return from a few days skiing in Aviemore. Having slept rough I must have been minging when we met at Gleneagles station.
I got off the train, it pulled away, and I looked across the
tracks to see a tweed-clad gentleman waving
to me from the opposite platform. I crossed the walkaway and still remember his handshake and the
brightness in his eyes as he said, ‘I’m Barry, pleased to meet you.’ We jumped
into his Range Rover and headed up to Loch Tay making easy conversation all the
way.
He had just re-built an activities centre, but the equipment
was tired. In my head, I had the Port Edgar model and ran through
what we could do to make a go of it. ‘No problem,’ he said, and then it was down to his house near Crieff.
I met his wife, Isobel, and we talked about books – although she
doesn’t remember that – and by the time we had finished a cup of tea and some
of her delicious baking, it was agreed I’d start the following week.
So began 12 extraordinary years where we learnt and achieved
much. Barry was a values driven man who believed in treating people equally and
rewarding them for their efforts. The life lessons he taught me have been enduring
and have made a better person of me.
14. During my Kenmore years I became a Special Constable. I had never considered myself being a policeman but one of the local officers, John, had other plans for me.
At that time, he and Bob covered the Aberfeldy beat and I would accompany them. When you do anything new, you learn from those around you,
and I could not have asked for better role models.
Professional, consistent, prepared to use their judgement and always humorous, they were the DNA that I have used over the subsequent 32
years.
15. Alan and Ronnie were two managers I worked with. Alan was a huge believer in developing people and the value of collaboration. I remember his honesty with the staff. ‘I’ll tell you what I know, and I’ll be honest about what I can’t tell you.’ He ran a business in the post-privatisation era - not an easy job with all the uncertainties that something like that created. We subsequently worked together in Turkey as he turned a hierarchical workforce into something truly interdependent. His belief in people was inspirational.
Ronnie had a similar role in a different part of the business. Again, he threw everything he had into creating something better for
everyone. Mind you, his ability to travel the A9 was something itself!
However; what I would like to recognise him for is the way he took an interest in me. I ran several workshops for him and his team, and at one, as seems to be a pattern in organisations, someone thought they would come and observe with the pre-formed opinion they could do it better. ‘Have confidence in yourself, Oliver. You do a good job; don’t let others distract you from that.’ I have repeated those words to myself many times since.
16. Nick was my project supervisor during my Strathclyde MBA. Once I had graduated, he invited me back to help design and deliver a programme. He valued my ability to connect theory to practice and to help students do the same. Without him being prepared to stand outside of the fold, I would not have been given that opportunity and the chance to help so many students over the last twenty two years. I thank him for seeing something others might not have.
17. I have worked with this woman for over twenty years. We are quite different as people and in our approach to our work, yet as a team we are brilliant. I’ve learnt so much from her and appreciate her no-nonsense approach and her aspirations for the workplace to be a more human environment.
18. Afrioditi is a wonderful Greek woman and special, special, special. She refers to me as, ‘My dear Oliver,’ and says it with such warmth! She is truly caring of those in her charge: both colleagues and students. Over the years and our dinners at some amazing Athenian restaurants, we have had both the deepest and funniest of conversations. She is such a lovely, lovely person.
19. Georgie is my sister. I know she’s always been there for me and always will be.
20. I have worked with Jim for over twenty years. Our paths have diverged then re-joined several times, resuming from where we left off with the greatest of ease. I think that’s because we share a belief in keeping things simple and understanding people are at the centre of whatever it is we are looking to achieve.
21. Linda has been a member of our extended family for perhaps twenty years; she helps look after us and is also so positive with me. I’m not sure what we would have done without her help in so many ways.
My heartfelt thanks to all of you.
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