Fay's Memories.

These are memories from Fay Pascoe who was our Education Officer at Vane Farm and was later promoted to be in charge of the RSPB's Education programme for Scotland, based at the Edinburgh Office which was then in Regent Terrace. We will post pictures when we have them.

Fay at a Vane Christmas Party.

I'm afraid my search for photos of 1980 - 87 ( my time at Vane) has been a bit of a disappointment. We did have a few problems a couple of years ago with albums getting water in and I can only think that some got ruined then. So far I have found a couple of faded photos of the  building and the 'new' scrape, and one acceptable one of myself, Iris McTighe and a couple of vols. The only other  decent one is of a YOC group ( Vane had its own) that I took to the reserve ( as it was then) at Killiecrankie. Let me know if you think copies of these would be of any use. (Please send them in!)

But of course there are some memories! We used to do 'goose breakfasts' when, as I remember it, some people stayed overnight presumably in tents  - but I am not totally sure of this ( it's a long time ago...) What I do remember is that  at least one vol couple had a camper-van and they provided porridge and bacon rolls to refresh us after the early start seeing the geese take off - I think we actually had frost one morning, I'm not sure whether this was under the wardenship of Graham Burton or Jim Stevenson, but whoever it was also provided refreshments. There was a small charge for this.

In those days everyone took turns in the shop - it was disconcerting to be serving and have people come in and ask a female member whether there was anyone about who knew anything about birds , or even 'Is there anyone here?' ( 'no, I am just a figment of your imagination') It was very small shop and no cafe of course.

Humphrey Lyttelton at the Vane.

Frank Hamilton the Scottish boss at the time - who preceded Stuart Housden, ( I think he is still with us) was very firm in his views - no need to provide food, litter bins or even loos - there were some at Vane , a bit primitive, but he was dead against having loos at other reserves like Abernethy! He was also not happy about the current visuals 'why do we need anything about Geology, no one's interested in rocks' - we thought that was fairly fundamental to the type of habitat! He was always of the opinion that it was only birds that mattered. Maybe you had better not use this if he is likely to be able to be at the celebrations!

We did have a touch table, very daring for the time , it was interesting to see how parents or teachers said 'Don't touch' until they read the notice - that was largely my responsibility and I spent one summer skinning a fox and curing the pelt for the table.

One memorable visitor was Humphrey Littleton who was a very keen birder - you probably don't even know the name! We did get him to sign the visitors' book.( jazz trumpeter and radio quizmaster)............. and there were parties....particularly when Jim was warden.

The building and opening of the tunnel happened in my time - there must be photos of that.

Fay training summer wardens
near Arthur's Seat, Edinburgh. 

School visits  were what  I was responsible for and also the  training of what we then called ( and until quite recently) teacher naturalists - several had been teachers.  Children came free from Central, Tayside and Fife  schools- their councils all contributed to the reserve. Some schools came very well prepared, others thought it was just a fun day out. Visits from the School for the  Blind in Edinburgh were always fascinating - the children noticed all sorts of things that others did not. Visits from the School for the Deaf (Edinburgh and other region's schools had to pay) were difficult - communication was a real problem as you can imagine. One school we liked particularly was from Cellardyke - the head teacher was diminutive, but she certainly had those children prepared  and disciplined - but in a very good way.  Better not mention the  schools we hated  - not many. Once we had the tunnel  and could get over the  road safely we introduced pond dipping, which was very popular. Most of the schools which  visited were primary schools, but we did introduce more specialised course for older classes including what was then Sixth Year Studies - I think we did occasionally have teacher training days , and some University groups came and did their own thing.

I think I had better stop! My brain  hurts from trying to remember things which happened up to 37 years ago!  Any way, I hope you can sift something useful from these meanderings - best of luck!!!