Farewell Donald: Nairn reporter retires after 51 years...
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Nairnshire edition reporter Donald Wilson has retired after more than half-a-century in the industry with the likes of the Nairnshire Telegraph and The Inverness Courier. He reflects on his career as he hands over his writing duties...
“RETIRING was not an easy decision because I’ve loved my job. But there are things I want to do and not having to meet deadlines will let me pursue my other interests.”
Donald has already had a book published about his footballing hero Davy Johnston and co-wrote the history of Nairn County FC.
“I’ve been working on a book on St Ninian FC and hopefully we’ll get that across the line this year.”
Nairn-born, much of his career has been spent reporting on his home town.
“That presents its own challenges because you know the people involved. But in entering journalism you are accepting responsibility to report with honesty and integrity.
“That was instilled in me by my mentor Alex Laing when I joined the Nairnshire Telegraph as a cub reporter at the age of 16 in 1971.”
Donald’s career had barely started when opportunities presented themselves for his generation to move into the oil industry.
“My father and two of my brothers both landed up working for McDermotts building rigs. I could have joined them but set my stall to continue in journalism and I’ve no regrets.
“In these days we had a staff of more than 12 people at the Nairnshire in Leopold Street. It was the era of hot metal and I’m sure I speak for everyone who remembers these days. They were the best.
“I worked for 25 years for the Bain family who published the paper. I’m sure it must have been a very hard decision for Iain Bain to cease publishing the Nairnshire in 2020 and it is sorely missed.
“It was then my employers at Highland News and Media recalled me from my role as a court reporter to take on the challenge of producing an edition of the Courier for our Nairn readers. It’s for others to judge but I feel it has been welcomed to fill in what would have been a serious news vaccum in Nairn.
“I’m delighted that Highland News and Media are continuing to commit resources to ensure that Nairn issues continue to feature in its columns and online.
“I’ve known my successor Federica Stefani since she joined the company and she is an enthusiastic and talented journalist who I know will do a great job. I would urge all my contacts to get in touch with her.”
After 25 years at the Nairnshire, Donald and his wife Fiona and three children emigrated to Australia where Fiona, who is also from Nairn, had lived for 12 years.
“I worked in a local paper in Parkes NSW and Fiona got a post as a nurse at the local hospital. But we decided to come home and things fell into place.”
Donald spent three years with the Press & Journal as chief reporter in Inverness then bureau chief in Elgin before joining the Highland News Group in 2000.
He has been with the company, and its successor Highland News and Media, working sometimes for the Highland News and sometimes for the Inverness Courier ever since before the news teams were amalgamated.
“Obviously my Nairn contacts were invaluable and I’ve been involved in the major stories that have impacted on the community. The most tragic was the death of four children in a fire at the harbour and of course the murder of Alastair Wilson.”
His career in local journalism has seen many changes in the way we are governed.
“In the early days we had the town and county councils who held all their meetings in the Courthouse and of course we had a Sheriff Court. The centralisation of services following the Wheatley report in 1972 brought about reforms in local government.
“I’m sorry to say it has resulted in a dreadful deficit in local democracy and the loss of valuable council jobs in Nairn. Nairn faces many challenges and I hope people will pull together and put personalities aside and focus on what’s best for Nairn.”
He continued: "I have enjoyed my work in the community not least with the summer ceilidhs which still pull in the crowd and it’s where I can make a complete a*** of myself as MC.
"Football has been a passion all my life. Never got above amateur standard but was good at fund raising... a campaign I started went on to raise £100,000 over seven years for Nairn County FC and we had great fun along the way.
"Still doing a bit of running... but the mince pies seem to be winning the battle this year!"
