Black Isle Men's Shed

Donnie Macleod (Trustee) : Chair.

Happily retired after working as a Chartered Civil engineer for many years on a variety of projects including tunnelling, water supply and road maintenance. Most of my working life was in Argyll, Shetland and central Scotland.

I am married with 2 grown up children who now live in New Zealand and I take the opportunity to visit them and our 4 grandchildren when I can. I have a life long interest in boats and am an enthusiastic member of Chanonry sailing club and have a share in a very nice yacht that we sail around the West coast in the summer.

My other hobbies are rowing, football, spectating now rather than playing, traditional boats and woodworking.

Steve Bramwell (Trustee) : Past Chair.

I retired from my work life as a Consultant Urologist at Raigmore Hospital in 2013 having spent 35 years in NHS surgical practice. I have always been a keen sailor and have spent my retirement so far exploring the coast of Scotland in a sailing boat which I own jointly with friends. I have served on the Committee of Chanonry Sailing Club as Secretary and volunteer fund raiser, and was involved in the building of two St Ayles Rowing Skiffs which now comprise Fortrose Community Rowing.

I am interested in setting up projects to enhance the quality of life in our communities on the Black Isle and am excited to be involved in the BIMS development.

Other interests include rowing, cycling and outdoor pursuits in general.

I am married with 3 grown up children and have lived in Fortrose for the past 22 years

Stewart Robertson (Trustee) : Past Chair

Stewart worked in the North of Scotland with the Ordnance Survey for 40 years and at one time helped set up the AAA (Àinmean Àite na h-Alba – Gaelic Place Names of Scotland) before retiring in 2007.

He was President of the North District Golf Association in 2002 / 2003 and is currently on the Scottish Golf Review Panel for Course Rating.

He has lived in the Black Isle for almost 30 years.

Mike Halley (Trustee) : Vice Chair. Fundraising and Procurement

Served in the Fire Service for 27 years and has recently retired after a further 27 years as a Fire Consultant. He also spent 4 ½ years as Fire safety Manager for Highland Council. He is currently National Secretary of the National Association of Retired Fire-fighters.

He has been a Rotarian since 1979, a past President of two Rotary Clubs and served as District Governor in 2015/16.

He enjoys golf, fishing and model making. He has lived on the Black Isle for 20 years.

George Smith : Session Leader

Attended Inverness Technical College for Mechanical Engineering before moving to Carpentery and Joinery  up to Advanced Crafts.

Spent fifteen years in the construction trade before being forced into retirement as a result of an industrial accident in 2005.

Interests and hobbies include green woodworking, wood carving and native crafts.

Richard Cherry (Trustee) : Secretary

I retired from the NHS in 2007 after 40 years, most of it as an Orthopaedic Surgeon in the English Midlands, and have been involved with Chanonry Sailing Club and other activities in the Black Isle since then.

John Tuach (Trustee) :  Webmaster

Background : Started in IT in the days when the only way to communicate with computers was to feed them punch cards and paper tape after learning languages such as Fortran, Algol, Basic and Cobol. Was involved with IT in the travel industry for much of my career before 'going solo' working on Internet developments.

Hobbies : Golf, wildlife and fishing

Interests : Helping and advising local community groups with their IT needs such as the North Kessock Ticket Office Project.

Peter Lawrence (Trustee) : Treasurer

BBC Engineering Dept. (Transmitter Group) 1968 to 2008 Retired

Essential skills for above are plumbing, mechanical, electrical and electronic engineering, to walk up hills and climb masts. Colleagues were enthusiasts about many things, they had amazing stories of early TV and the war. If only they had, “Men’s Sheds,” 50 years ago.

Since retiring I returned as a self employed commissioning engineer for the new digital TV system.

Interests

I loved sport, especially badminton. DIY. most home projects. Built or re-built engines, bicycles, boats, motorbikes, cars, radios, hang gliders and micro-light aircraft.

Richard Evans : Project Coordinator

I'm a Civil Engineer and retired in 2016 from the post of Head of Roads and Community Works in The Highland Council and its predecessor after 36 years, mainly in Roads and Transport and Engineering Computing. I've been based in Skye, Dingwall and most recently Inverness.

My main interest after my family is Sailing (racing and coaching) and I've been a member of Chanonry Sailing Club since the '60s. My other interests include using computers; managing websites; photography; reading thrillers and science fiction. Oh, and gardening when I have to!

I'm looking forward to helping the Mens' Shed develop for the benefit of its members and the local community.

Mike Hale : Session Leader

Nicolaas Du Preez: Session Leader

Social Convenor/Fundraising : Vacant