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better get insurance!’ I looked at him incredulously and thought “I just do not believe this.” That was a really, really nervous 24 hours that I had.’
Reversing up the Road...in a coach... for two miles!
Ros Newlands recalls an infamous incident when, on a training course in the highlands, Con Gillen who oversaw the STGA course for the University of Edinburgh and also lectured in geology – insisted that the coach could get access to Eddrachilles Bay – he had done it before. ‘But he forgot that “before” was in a mini bus,’ she said. The result was that the coach driver, John Johnson, had to reverse two miles back up the road when we reached an impassable bridge.
‘The following year on a tour of Shetland the local Green Badge guide took us down a narrow road that again resulted in John having to reverse but this time into a woman’s front garden – much to the amusement of a flock of sheep who came over to the fence to watch. Undaunted as ever John volunteered on year three and for some unknown reason had to reverse off the Craignure ferry.
In 2014 Norma Allan and Morag Dunbar wrote a song about the occasion to mark Con Gillen’s retirement. ‘Reversing Up The Road’ was sung to Yellow on the Broom.
1 This year the Scottish Tourist Guides will say goodbye to Con,
No longer to enlighten us on roacks and peat and stauns.
Without his expert guidance, how will we understand
these rocky scenes of schist and slate we see throughout the land?
2 The inspiration for our song goes back for many years,
Con led us up the garden path which ended up in tears.
We took Con’s road to Badcall, John Johnston at the wheel,
But soon we reached an impasse, John shouting “You’re no real!”
CHORUS Reversing up the road, Reversing up the road,
With John undaunted at the wheel, Reversing up the road.
3 Next year when up in Shetland, things went again askew
We reached a bridge we couldnae cross, unable to get through. Then John reversed uphill again, some sheep arrived on cue And stood in sheer dumbfoundedness till we passed out of view.
4 Behind us was a Shetlander, a wifie o’ some years,
She said to John: “I’m sorry, son – I canna reverse gears!” Our local guide then took the wheel to relieve her of her plight While we continued backwards with no turning place in sight.
CHORUS
5 Our leader, Ros, was often known to cause hilarity.
She chased Con down a Shetland road and fell on her BT. Covered in peat and sore and bruised, and wearing silly shoes, She had to change, pit on her boots, saying: “We are not amused.”
6 When checking out of our hotel, Ros got her bill and signed, A very large amount it was; she’d too much on her mind.
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