Where are they now?

Project Trust Staff of the past two decades.......

Recklessly, I volunteered to write this article, not fully realising the enormity of the task nor the responsibility inherent in remembering everyone. It therefore seems sensible to limit the list to those who have worked for Project Trust during my association, which lasts 20 years and to those who were full time members of staff, as so many have passed through on a temporary basis. My memory isn't the best, so I have consulted, Nick Bristol who seems to forget no one, various ex-staff and John, who though never renowned for his memory, remembered a couple we nearly forgot!

I was amazed to count over 40 returned volunteers and others who have spent significant periods living and working on Coll. I am confident in saying that for all of them the experience had a profound affect, leaving them with a deep affection for the community. Observing their involvement, they all found their own niches, making friends throughout the community and contributing in so many different ways. Many have worked hard on Coll committees; were instrumental in developing what are now Coll traditions, such as the Pantomime; were founder members of the Malin Band and lots have continued this involvement in music; some have been active members of bodies as diverse as the Church of Scotland and the fire brigade.

How many names from the past do you remember?

Debs Alexander recently left Coll to work for Leonard Cheshire Homes in London, having spent 6 years on Coll. I'm sure we've not seen the last of Debs.

Sue Anderson is living and working in Taynuilt as a successful freelance photographer. She is often to be seen in and around Oban and occasionally on the ferry to Coll and Tiree.

Jeremy Astill-Brown married Marisa Gunner (ex PT staff) and is currently working for the Foreign Office in Angola. They never miss visiting Coll when on leave.

Tom Austin was last heard of married with children and living in France.

Kate Beckman lives and works in Edinburgh, where she lives with Chris and her two sons. Pat Belier returned to Canada in Oct 1981, where she is working as a librarian. She keeps in regular contact with Esther MacRae, who heard from her at Christmas.

Andrew Chadwick sadly left Coll for Chile in Jan 2001. He's in constant contact with many people on Coll and will certainly be back.

Kate Crean who lived in Hill Cottage in the middle eighties, has not been heard of for some considerable time.

Julian Donnelly married Karen Mills (also ex PT staff). After a few years teaching in South Africa, they returned to Britain and are living in Lancashire with their 4 children.

Harold Doswell came to work for Project when he retired from Social Services and became a regular visitor to Coll. Dossie sadly died more than a decade ago.

Gay Drysdale was also a mainland based member of staff, but a regular on Coll. She still lives in Oxfordshire and is now the mother-in-law of Mary Nottidge (Coll 1989 -1991).

Ivor Dunbar worked on Coll in 1983 and became our represenative in Sudan. He's now based in London, working as a banker.

Danny Eagle worked on Coll for a short while. Unfortunately we have lost touch with Danny, so it would be good to hear news of him.

Ben Forbes was last heard of working in the Okavango Delta in Botswana, though he came back to Coll for a fleeting visit not so long ago with Rupert Leighton.

Tim Gardner joined the Dominicans a year and a half ago, is still in regular contact with many people on Coll and is now based in Oxford, where he is training for the priesthood.

Andrew and Vicky Greaves moved to Glamis, where Andrew was the Parish Minister, then to Gordonstoun School and are now I believe in Dundee. Andrew and Vicky run LINK, a Gap year organisation for Scottish students.

Anna Gryce who was based in our London office lives in London.

Marisa Gunner married Jeremy Astill-Brown (also ex PT staff) after leaving Coll and is now in Angola with Jeremy, where she works for Save the Children.

Beth Hazel, I have it on good advice, is living in 'married land' in Lancashire, where she works for In4Trek.

Isobel Hume I understand from the same source (Lauchie Maclean-Bristol), is about to marry Rob, who she left Coll to join in Wales. She now works for Wales Group for Voluntary Action. J

ames Langdon has travelled widely since leaving Project, most recently in Tanzania, but I believe is in Devon working for the Prince's Trust.

Richard Lee went off to the States after Project and is still there with his wife and family.

Rupert Leighton visited Colllast summer, while on leave from his job in Cambodia. Jake Lloyd-Smith is a frequent visitor to Coll. He has spent most of the last few years abroad and is currently in Singapore, working for the South China Morning Post.

Fiona MacFarlane one of our first Aussies, keeps in occasional contact with Margaret Wheeler James. She was last heard of married with one child and living in Orange in Australia.

Sue MacIntyre, one of our Aussie volunteers, is I believe still living back in Australia.

Lauchie Maclean-Bristollives in Leeds, where he works for i-to-i, a gap year organisation.

Miranda MacLelland, the other of our first Aussie volunteers, is now married and living in Australia, where we believe she works as a physiotherapist.

Esther MacRae worked for Project in the early 1980's and is still resident on Coll, where she is District Nurse.

Alison McVey came to work for Project Trust in 1984, studied for her degree in London, then returned to Coll, where she now lives with her three children.

Roger Mann is working in Italy, where he lives with Anna. He's in contact without fail every Christmas, but it would be good to see him back on Coll for a visit.

Catriona McLennan, better known to many on Coll as Squish, is a regular back to Coll. Rumour has it she is about to get married too.

Brian Milligan who pursued his career in media journalism, was last seen by me in Newcastle railway station many years ago, but was last heard of working on News Night South East.

Karen Mills is married to Julian Donnelly (ex PT staff) and lives in Lancashire with Julian and their 4 children.

Mary Nottidge worked in Germany on leaving Project and is currently living there with her Steve Price-Thomas is probably the most frequent ex-staff visitor to Coll, despite living in Vietnam, where he works for VSO. On his last visit at New Year, he was repeatedly heard waxing lyrical about Coll being his spiritual home.

Helen Ramage left Coll for sunnier climes and is happily established in Portugal, though Lauchie says she misses typing Nick's books.

Andrew Russell is lecturing in anthropology to Human Sciences and Medical students at the University of Durham Stock ton Campus. He's promising to visit Coll this year. Tuana Saunders another Aussie volunteer, who also visited

Steve Price-Thomas in Vietnam is rumoured to have been studying in Glasgow

Will Self now works for Feedback Madagascar, based in Argyl., but spends part of the year in Madagascar and is a frequent visitor to Coll when he's back in Argyll.

Moya Simpson married Colgate (AndyCutts), who she met on Cool and is currently woring with Lauchie at I-to-i in Leeds.

Nicky Smith  has become Project's answer to Kte Adie, wherever there's strife you'll find her there. I believe she is currently inchina with Medicin snas Frontier.

Robert Sprent worked for Project in the late eighties and unfortunately we have lost touch with him. Any news would be great.

Carolyn Stephens worked oncoll in the middle eighties. Unfortunately, we have lost touch with her too, so if anyone knows her whereabouts we'd be very interested to hear about her.

Bart Stobart will be easily remembered as the talles Project staff member yet. He has prusued a career in broadcasting, but we're not sure where he isw at present.

Karen Taylor is living and working near Berwick and keeps in touch occasionally.

Caroline Thom now works for the Guide Assaciation, based in London. She brought her partner, Eddie, to Coll just before Christmas and I'm assured they'll be back soon.

Julia Thomson trained in medicine after leaving Project and I understand is now a Paediatrician, though I'm not sure where.

Bill Tod has worked extensively in the voluntary sector and we occasionally hear from him through returned volunteers, also involved inszve the Children.

Charlotte Tucker we last saw at the Project reunion in 1999. She has worked for a number of vuluntary agencies, but i think was planning a career in nursing.

Geoff Waterston who with his wife Maggie and son Joe is still a regular on Coll is now a company director with Waterston's the Stationers in Edinburgh.

Trudy Zell, as far as we know, she is still living in australia.

A.F.