10 August 2021

 Well, it is so very odd to see yourself on a television screen. There, I was, last night, speaking with an authority, my own vivid memories of a much loved space. I was both honoured and delighted to make my contribution to the brilliant and beautifully crafted documentary 'Mi Fhein is Mackintosh/Art on Fire', directed by Lewis filmmaker, Calum Angus MacKay, which was broadcast on BBC Alba, last night. A credit to all involved with its production.

The master stroke here was to have a group of GSA Alumni, former and current students from the islands, relate their personal, special and highly emotional feelings for the Glasgow School of Art. The most magical place, known affectionately as 'The Mack', designed by architect, artist and designer Charles Rennie Macintosh, where their creative imaginations were to grow and develop. Each account, in this documentary, is detailed and articulate, each is beautifully visual, as one might expect from individuals with keen artistic senses. Certainly a unique picture emerges of a place greatly loved, and now sadly missed, by all fortunate to have studied there. The interest in rebuilding this iconic gem of architecture remains strong and it is potentially huge. This could well be the beginning of a positive and pro-active campaign to deliver the many questions, long since requiring answers. This would be an excellent outcome from the film.

For my own part, I have already been involved in some of the discussion to date, many of my feelings and opinions have been voiced and written. My online comments in the immediate aftermath of the second fire, on Friday 15th June 2018, formed a personal viewpoint which was published on the STV online news page, on Monday 18th June 2018. That was a great honour, the article was accompanied by two photographs of me, as a nineteen year old, in the ' Henrun' loggia, on the top floor of 'The Mack', and the article was indeed the start of the memories that were flooding into my mind. I do regret that, for this film, I was not yet confident enough to let my memory flow to camera in Gaelic. Reviving any ability in Gaelic, has been high on my 'to do'/'must do' list since I returned to live on the island, in January 2017.