Finlaystone House, Langbank, Scotland. Home of the Chief of Clan MacMillan…

Unsure of what to do when I left school, Mother saw an advertisement, Lady MacMillan, Finlaystone House, Langbank, looking for a gardener…went for an interview but she had already employed Benedict Thierrie, to work alongside Hugh Sweeny, head gardener. She asked if I could cook, and I said no, but was willing to learn.

I arrived at Finlaystone on my 18^th Birthday.

Caroline Lucken and Nicola Jack taught me cookery and I quickly managed, with team work, Mrs Beaton’s Cook Book and Finlaystone’s wonderful cooker and Victorian kitchen, also garden work, bees and floristry.

Lady MacMillan wrote the menu out for the week on a little chalk board. Lady “M” had us making seasonal jams, marmalade, chutney, bottled fruits and processing honey. Lots of baking and fresh made bread. Little balls of butter made with butter pats and served in shell shaped dishes, cream skimmed from a big bowl of milk.

I met Richard Birch, Ranger at Finlaystone, and we kept in contact, enjoying some excellent botanising, bird watching and fossil hunting trips over the years. He is now Dr Richard Birch, Senior Ecologist. Worked in the gardens with Valerie Shipp, who also went on to study ecology and fulfil her ambition to work in forestry.

Had great fun with Vanessa Twigg from Australia, and welcomed Azman Salleh & Baharuddin Noordin , Malaysian Army officer cadets, training Sandhurst. A visit from a young student David Twyman; he returned to his native Jamaica and now produces Blue Mountain Old Tavern Coffee, some of the best in the world.

One day in the news paper in the dining room I saw an advertisement for B.A. Degree Home Economics, my WORST subject at school, but exactly what I was learning at Finlaystone…applied, was interviewed by Principle Dr Claudine Morgan & got accepted, so after a wonderful year with the MacMillans I left for Queen Margaret College, Edinburgh.

In the summer holidays, twice running, I went to Virginia USA to live, visit and work with & through Finlaystone friends of the family…Kay & John Pollard, the Oliva family, Laura MacMillan, Frances Ehrlich, Jane Baskerville, Lelani and Andrew MacMillan NYC.

Met my life long Virginian sweetheart and penfriend Wardell Carter.

Did not want to teach Home Economics, and on a trip back to Finlaystone, just before graduation, Judy Hutton asked me if I was interested in becoming a Preparatory School Matron, as her daughter Alice had had a job offer she did not need…I took the position and worked 10 wonderful years as House Matron, Horris Bank, at the school Robin and Judy Hutton’s son and cousins had attended, Horris Hill Prep. School. I cared for the young now famous singer Will Young, and his twin brother Rupert.

Met my beloved David Christopher Abel at Horris Hill…New Zealand High Country Stockman.

Later, when we had our son James George Abel-Moir, I saw an advertisement for Horticulturist, and with my Finlaystone garden experience, I applied; 10 years Horticulturist in a lovely garden with Mrs H. Anna Newton, Stanford Dingley, who taught me so much, & I was able to take my son to work pre-school, and in school holidays.

As my walking deteriorated, as I was born with a dislocated right hip, James’ father David trained as a Tree Surgeon and I supported his business, my horticultural experience invaluable.

David, James and I visited Finlaystone with grandmother Doreen from New Zealand, and were greeted by Chief George and Jane MacMillan.

I still have so many dear friends connected with my year at Finlaystone, and keep in contact with the MacMillans every Christmas and despite being registered blind, with a rare eye disorder Chief George responds immediately to my email with great affection.