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‘As we entered the Debating Chamber, I saw that Jack McConnell (then First Minister) was showing a small group of friends and family around too,’ she said.
‘I smiled and he immediately welcomed my small group. The Scottish couple were delighted that he spontaneously took the time to greet them. The English couple asked politely afterwards who the friendly gentleman was. The Scots were pleased to tell them.
‘I met Jack McConnell again the following summer when he was travelling on his own on the ferry to Arran (presumably to visit friends and family as he grew up on the island). I was guiding a press trip for VisitScotland and had several German journalists with me. Knowing how approachable he had been last time I chanced my luck and asked him if he would like to meet my journalists for a chat. They were very impressed by his open manner and by the fact that he knew so much about their own country. Top marks! Politicians are often accused of being out of reach and out of touch. Irrespective of party I don't think this is often the case North of the Border.’
In March 2006 the contract was extended for a further 18 months to September 2007. By then the number of tours had been reduced and the STGA was only providing four guides per day. Doreen said that in June 2007 the STGA was invited to re-tender for the Contract, but it was made quite clear that it had to reduce costs considerably as Parliament was losing money on the contract.
‘After a great deal of work by July 2007 the Contract was extended from 21/9/2007 to 20/9/2009,’ said Doreen.
‘In 2007, we were lucky enough to persuade Kenny MacAskill MSP to host our STGA’s 10th Anniversary as a company with a reception in the Parliament Garden Lobby. A great event when Billy Kay, the writer and broadcaster spoke and Karine Polwart sang.
‘In the second half of 2008 it became very clear during the monthly contract meetings I had with Parliament, that the number of visitors and therefore tours were decreasing, and they asked us to reduce the number of guides again down to two per day. It was very frustrating for both STGA and Parliament Visitor Services because Parliament felt that as they were not a commercial company, they could not market the guided tours as effectively as we would have liked.
‘A very important theme throughout Parliament was that they provided free access to everyone and everything and finally, or perhaps inevitably, the decision was made to offer their tours free of charge and in-house. There was little we could do as our guides would not work free of charge and we could not run the administration of these tours free of charge.
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