Steve Bramwell : 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

Mike Halley : 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 : Workshop Management

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 : 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 : 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 : 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 : Workshop Management

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.

Don Holding : Workshop Management

Served apprenticeship at A.W.R.E as Instrument Mechanic before joining GPO in its mechanical switching days. Later, as BT, we entered the electronic era, and I ended my days as Southern area customer systems installation manager with several hundred staff. I retired in 1989 and joined a Community Bus service for old and disabled people as fleet manager and trainer.

I retired again in 2005 and then worked part time in a garden centre as an odd-job man.

My hobbies have included renovating 5 houses with new electrics and plumbing. a nut-and-bolt rebuild of an MGB and several other car renovations. I am a member of Chanory Rowing club and a committee member for the  Fortose and Rosemarkie Classic car show.

As part of a project team, I have been doing research on World war 1 and its effects on the Black Isle, which is now on display at Groam House Museum,