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In November Bill Nicholson wrote to Russell to tell him he had had a meeting with Glasgow councillors Wilkie and Methven to discuss the future of guide training classes in Glasgow. A few Glasgow guides including William Davies were also present.
“Considerable dissatisfaction” was expressed by the decision of the STGA to cancel the classes.
“I told those present that the primary interest of the (Scottish Tourist) Board was to get qualified Guides who, having obtained the diploma and badge, could be available to act as guides not only in Edinburgh and Glasgow but throughout Scotland. I further pointed out that apart from the very small number of trained guides in Glasgow it was clearly evident that there was little employment for Guides in Glasgow and that, as a Board, we could not support the promotion of classes in which the majority of those attending were there simply to increase their local knowledge. This was accepted. In the course of the discussion it was evident that Glasgow wanted to promote its own classes and they accepted my point that the promotion of such classes could only be financed in Glasgow.’
Nicholson said since the meeting he had received a letter from William Davies advising him
that it had been decided to set up an organisation to be known as the Scottish Tourist Guides Association (Glasgow branch) with Davies as chairman and the Lord Provost of Glasgow as Honorary President. Nicholson said, as a result of the creation of the new Association in Glasgow, that in future the Board should only be responsible for a Register of qualified guides who have sat and passed the examination of the board and for the issue of such Badges as are required to those who qualify.
He also said that a change may have to be made in respect of the Edinburgh end of the Association in that there should be an Edinburgh Branch responsible for its own activities and entirely responsible for the financing of these activities.
In addition any new branch formed anywhere in Scotland should, like Edinburgh or Glasgow, be responsible for its own administration and finances.
He said such a re-organisation would lessen the administrative work being undertaken by Alice Finlayson and this would necessitate employing her in some other branch of the board’s work.
Three days later Russell sent in his resignation as chairman of the executive committee of the Scottish Tourist Guides Association saying he did not wish to be associated with any plan such as outlined in Nicholson’s letter.
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