Page 10 - Microsoft Word - Guiding light final version 1855 1306.doc

The training class took the form of evening lectures, one evening per week from October to March. The lectures were supplemented by coach tours, usually on Sundays, where practical training was given and every student who entered the class had to be prepared to participate in all of these tours as part of their training.
Students were expected to read extensively and to have a working knowledge of history, geography national and local government, art, architecture, agriculture and be well informed on current affairs.
For the purposes of the diploma and badge, the country was divided into districts and first year candidates were expected to attempt four written test papers: General Knowledge, City of Edinburgh, Trossachs and Loch Lomond area and the Borders and Lothians.
Only after passing in all four papers could the student take the practical test which was in the form of a tour of the city by private coach, the students taking it in turns to guide.
Every guide who qualified for the diploma and badge was required to become a member of the STGA paying the annual fee which was two guineas at that time.
The badge which originally was designed with a blue background with thistle and saltire superimposed, required a deposit of five shillings from the guide and remained the property of the Scottish Tourist Board.’
In 1964 a series of 20 lectures costing one guinea was started for those wishing to extend the scope of their diplomas by passing tests for districts not already covered by the diplomas.
These were on: Glasgow and the Clyde, Burns Country including Dumfries and Galloway, Central Scotland including Angus, Fife, Kincardineshire and Kinross-shire, the Central and Northern Highlands, the Western Highlands and Islands, the North East and Orkney and Shetland.
In 1965, according to the STGA seventh annual report of the Executive committee, classes for guide candidates were organised and held, normally at weekly intervals in both Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Owing to the change in the policy of the Extra-Mural Department of Edinburgh University, the Edinburgh classes, previously held under the auspices of that department, were held, from the beginning of the 1965/66 session under the auspices of the Edinburgh Council Education Department with the co-operation of the Workers Education Association.
Glasgow classes were held under the auspices of the City of Glasgow Council Education Department and were organised by committee member Hugh Hutchison.
In the early part of 1965, some 12 candidates were successful in passing the tests in Edinburgh but two later left the Association.
Four were employees of Edinburgh Corporation Transport Department and out of the remaining six, only one was available as a full-time guide.
The Executive Committee was obviously unhappy about this.
“These figures seem to us to point to the desirability of admitting to the classes, in both cities, only candidates who are able and willing to serve as guides when called upon, exception being made only for those with language qualifications,”it said.
Another significant milestone for the STGA was when Basil Skinner took over from John Barclay as Director of Extra Mural Studies at the University of Edinburgh in 1966.
Although Dr Barclay continued to lecture, Skinner also played a major role in honing the skills of guides.
Skinner was born in Edinburgh in 1923 and attended school at Edinburgh Academy where he won the Aitken Prize in Classics.
He went on to study at Edinburgh University. But the Second World War intervened, and he served with the East Riding of Yorkshire Infantry in Normandy, later moving to the Intelligence Corps.
Returning to Edinburgh University he graduated in History and won the Cousin Prize in Fine Art. In 1951 he became librarian at the Glasgow School of Art.
He had a remarkable career becoming Assistant Keeper of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery when he was just 31.
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