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was from the Gambia. The very first recipients of the award came from the Gambia and Guatemala. Since then our successful Jane Orde Scholars have come from Egypt, Jordan, India, Mozambique, Malaysia, Thailand, Brazil, Peru, Georgia, Ukraine, Argentina, Bhutan, Bahamas, Barbados, Philippines, Uruguay and Uzbekistan.
Jane’s husband Martin was invited to the WFTGA Convention and met the first recipients of the scholarship. He had helped his wife in compiling the so-called “Jane Orde Document” which was the result of her research into guide conditions, training and licencing worldwide. As she became frailer, he completed much of the document.
‘Sally and I met two guides from the Gambia who arrived by Citylink coach carrying two very large parcels wrapped in corrugated cardboard – their national musical instruments which they donated to the Blind auction before they left,’ said Doreen. They were definitely not dressed for a Scottish winter and Dot came to the rescue with her sons’ clothes. They had thought they could stay in a youth hostel, but we swiftly organised them with accommodation in Dunblane Hydro. I mediated in a major political incident talking by phone with the Cyprus Foreign Minister who was insisting the Cyprus guides should leave the Conference because a Northern Cyprus guide had arrived and wanted to wear her national dress at the opening event where we had asked as many guides as possible to wear their national costumes.
‘There were many highlights in the programme: the Gaelic Primary School Choir at the opening ceremony, the Minister for Tourism arriving late – (he couldn’t find the Hotel - should’ve had a blue badge guide!!), teaching the delegates Scottish country dancing (Anne Robertson had created a new dance ‘hands across the world’ specifically for the convention), many whisky tastings, beating the Retreat by the Queen Victoria School, Burns Night with John Cairney, the actor and our own Russell Wanless as Holy Wullie! The Ceilidh and Blind Auction, the full day in Edinburgh with the bids for the next Convention heard in the Castle Gatehouse! Delegates also had a tour of Stirling and visited Dunblane Cathedral.
A unique work of art, a Scottish Triptych, was commissioned from Nicky Sanderson. Many delegates had arrived with the four-day Pre-Tour, Best of England, organised with the London Blue Badge Guides, which brought them from London to Dunblane. After the Convention many delegates went on a four-day Post Tour which included Glasgow, the Highlands, Inverness, and Aberdeen. Spouses were treated to tours of St. Andrews, Andrew Carnegie & Dunfermline, Glasgow & Charles Rennie Mackintosh.
Another amazing achievement was that all delegates left on the final day with a fully bound complete set of the many lectures offered during the
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