scotland (4K)
The Friends of the Far North Line
Cairdean Na Loine Tuath
the campaign group for rail north of Inverness - lobbying for improved services for the local user, tourist and freight operator

Pen Pictures

Mike Lunan, Convener, lived in Arran for 17 years before moving to Thurso in 2005. He was Convener of the Rail Passengers Committee Scotland and the Cal-Mac Users Committee from 2000. He was Chairman of the RPC's Safety and Personal Security Task Force, with a particular interest in Route Crime and Level Crossing issues.

Ron Stevenson, Treasurer, born 1934 Dunfermline. Edinburgh University 1951-56. Qualified lawyer but spent entire career in public admin. Main appointments ;- County Clerk of Caithness 1967-75, Chief Executive, Highland Regional Council 1981-96.
Main interests - Classical music, play pipe organ and piano and learning the cello.

Gavin Sinclair, Secretary, has been a member of FoFNL for 8 years. Living in Watten, near Wick, He studied Chemistry at the University of Aberdeen before moving to London working in train planning for a number of London commuter train companies. For 5 years, Gavin was Train Planning Manager at c2c. Now working as a rail planning consultant, he advises clients on timetabling, diagramming and resource planning. His main interests include travelling (by train!) in the UK, Europe and North America, theatre and politics (his office is near Westminster!). He is a member of the Railway Study Association and Institute of Railway Operators.

Roger Piercy, Newsletter Editor, member 14. He joined whilst working with Frank Roach in Dingwall Academy. Became Newsletter Editor in 1998 after developing desk top publishing skills whilst teaching Computing. Lifelong interest in all forms of transport and most abiding railway memory is travelling on the double-decker on the Dartford Loop into Charing Cross. His main interest is maintaining his garden.

Richard Ardern. Following a BSc (Honours) in Geography at Aberdeen University and a postgraduate MA in Librarianship at Sheffield University, Richard became Librarian to the Highlands and Islands Development Board in 1971. His spare time interests in consumer affairs were pursued through membership of two community councils, majoring on planning and transport issues. For ten years he was Chairman of the Highland Post Office Advisory Committee and a member of the Post Office Users Council for Scotland. His main interests in the modern railway are in the operating and consumer angles, but he still finds the excitement of a steam locomotive battling up a stiff gradient to be one of the supreme joys of life.

Angus Stewart Membership Secretary. Angus has had a passion for railways all his life with a special interest in freight. He has watched and photographed the changes in the railway scene for many years. Since retiring from his employment with the Gas industry he has taken many holidays at home and abroad pursuing his hobby. He is also a keen railway modeller and is at present the secretary of Glenrothes Model Railway Club helping to organise their annual show in May each year and also attending other shows with layouts. His special modelling interest is German Railways.

Iain Macdonald. Iain started work at a small country station called Delny when he was fifteen years old. On return from National Service at the age of twenty I became a signalman at Achnasheen and then joined the relief staff as a signalman at Inverness. The area covered was from Blair Atholl to Wick and Thurso, and also the Kyle line, the East line as far as Forres and the Dava line to Aviemore. He served in Kyle (6 years), Invergordon (12 years), Dingwall (2 years) on the introduction of Radio Signalling. A further 18 years in Inverness brought him to retirement completing 50 years service on the Railway.