How long have you lived/did you live in the Inverness area?
I was born here and have lived in Inverness since I was two years old.
Best thing about living here?
It's where I've always lived so being part of various aspects of the community is very important.
Worst thing about living here?
A dead heat between traffic congestion, especially during the tourist season, and people playing bagpipes on the High Street.
One thing you would change about Inverness
Sort the potholes in the roads. (Am I allowed to say that because I'm an employee of Highland Council!?)
Your favourite walk/cycle ride
I would run it – down the south bank of the canal from Torvean towards Dochgarroch and up round the base of Craig Dunain hill.
Describe your ideal Inverness weekend
Saturday morning would be breakfast in Cobbs at Highland Industrial Supplies followed by an enjoyable weekly shop. Saturday afternoon at the football at Caley Thistle or Clach (can I also include Ross County?), before an early evening at Caley Thistle Social Club and later at either the British Legion Club or somewhere else not too "young" in or near the town centre. Sunday morning would be a leisurely rise followed by a bit of writing (which might be my Courier athletics column) before attending one of my daughter Jenny's races as her coach in the afternoon.
Where would you take a first time visitor to the area?
They would probably want to go to Culloden battlefield but I'd make sure I would put the battle into its proper historical context for them before we went. I would avoid Loch Ness like the plague since the whole concept, albeit a money-spinner, is just a bit cringe worthy and I'm a committed, lifelong non-believer in the monster!
Where's the best place for a first date?
That very much depends on what your tastes are.
Favourite local restaurant?
Well it sure ain't Tesco Inshes cafe! Cobbs at HIS do superb breakfasts and bacon rolls but in the more conventional sense I find Fairways difficult to beat.
Favourite shop?
I actually find doing the weekly shop at Morrisons very pleasant and relaxing although various queues there can be frustrating.
Your favourite local building, and why
No hesitation here! Still known as "The Academy" to a certain generation of Invernessians, I'm talking about what, for the moment anyway, is Inverness College's Midmills Building which housed Inverness Royal Academy from 1895-1979. That would have to be my choice given that I had six great years of schooling there, I've written three books about the place and I now have the unique distinction of being the only teacher left at the school who took pupils through their Highers in the old building.
Who is your favourite Invernessian, past or present, and why?
"Favourite" isn't the appropriate word here at all, but the last name on the Inverness Royal Academy World War II Memorial looms very large every time I pass it. The name is that of John Wilson who was a sergeant along with my father at the Highland Division's 152 Brigade HQ. In 1944 they were both in a farm house in Normandy and one or the other had to go to the stores. My father went, and seconds later the farm house was bombed. John Wilson was killed. Need I say more?
What is the area's best kept secret?
When they're going to decide on a format for the western bypass and get it built.
How do you think Inverness is perceived by the rest of Britain?
Given that most of the "rest of Britain" is south of Perth, they probably think that the entire population of the Highlands lives in adjacent mud huts with Claymores hidden in the roof and those who don't stand on street corners playing bagpipes are away stealing cattle belonging to those who do. Unfortunately, the area itself also pushes the kilty "Brigadoon" message hard enough partly to deserve such a reputation.
How would you describe Inverness in a sentence?
I'm sorry, but a sentence is woefully inadequate to describe a place with the attraction, charisma and home town atmosphere of Inverness!
