Page 91 - Microsoft Word - Guiding light final version 0822 1306.doc

‘However, at the end of 1991, Jean Kidd our booking agent was not too optimistic as walking tours had dropped off and bookings for the Bus Tour suffered from lack of publicity from the Company involved.
‘We all knew that Dundee was never going to be one of the hotspots but guides were still hopeful that things would change. Sadly in 1994 guides who lived in the Perthshire area decided to leave the Dundee, Angus and Fife Branch to set up a new Branch in Perth in the hope of attracting more work.
‘In 1996 the homecoming of Dundee’s ship RRS Discovery proved to be an attraction bringing more and more visitors to the City and the fact that it was put in the Dock already housing the Frigate Unicorn gave the Guides a challenge and they did well for a while working for outside Tour Operators. Other guides began to leave the area for personal reasons and numbers were beginning to fall. However our never say never group decided to make the International Tourist Guide Day one to remember. They took a party of blind people and accompanying minders on board the Discovery because they wanted to see everything about the ship; hosted a visit by residents of the MacKinnon Centre, Broughty Ferry and other adult training centres to the McManus Galleries and finally took two coachloads of old folk from old people’s homes around the City visiting “old haunts” and updating them on the changes that were taking place; crossing the Tay Road Bridge and visiting Broughty Ferry then finishing off with a visit to Shaw’s Sweet Factory for a guided tour there. They had the time of their life. But the Guides who organised it got the biggest kick of all. In 1999 the Dundee, Angus and Fife Branch was wound up. When one door closes – this was when Aberdeen suggested we join forces with them as they were anxious to increase their numbers. After a discussion the Dundee Branch decided to go ahead but that they wanted Dundee and St. Andrews incorporated into the name hence the Aberdeen, Dundee and St. Andrews Branch was formed.
Dundee branch guides
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