The countdown to my retirement is now running!In August 2017 I will retire after 43 years with museums in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland.Having led a Scottish case study on succession planning earlier in my career, it’s imperative for me to practice what I’ve been preaching. So, for the last year of my part time employment I’ve been focusing on a succession planning project agreed with my managers and colleagues of the museum service of South Lanarkshire Leisure & Culture Ltd (SLLC).The earlier case study was at a national level and generously supported by Museums Galleries Scotland and the Trustees of The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles). The support took the form of both funding to a total of £58k and professional support from the MGS team. It’s my pleasure to thank Gill Findlay then at MGS, Catherine Cartmell, MGS the towers of strength in that project and to honour the memory of the late Lt Colonel Hugh Mackay OBE who gave of his time and encouragement unstintingly. I owe them a huge debt of gratitudeStage 2 of my current cunning plan is, after retirement, following invitations from managers, colleagues and our volunteer group, to continue my involvement with the museum in a new incarnation as a volunteer in legacy projects:• With the Friends of Low Parks Museum helping to digitise the huge Chatelherault archive created in the 1970s from sources all over Scotland. In one of those coincidences which are so common in museum work, Sharon Paton who played a major role in the original Manpower Services Commission project, is now my colleague in the museum service.• Directly with SLLC to digitise our 3 filing cabinets of subject files so we can attach the PDFs to the records in our collection management system (CMS) and dispense with the paper copies.

The countdown to my retirement is now running!In August 2017 I will retire after 43 years with museums in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland.Having led a Scottish case study on succession planning earlier in my career, it’s imperative for me to practice what I’ve been preaching. So, for the last year of my part time employment I’ve been focusing on a succession planning project agreed with my managers and colleagues of the museum service of South Lanarkshire Leisure & Culture Ltd (SLLC).The earlier case study was at a national level and generously supported by Museums Galleries Scotland and the Trustees of The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles). The support took the form of both funding to a total of £58k and professional support from the MGS team. It’s my pleasure to thank Gill Findlay then at MGS, Catherine Cartmell, MGS the towers of strength in that project and to honour the memory of the late Lt Colonel Hugh Mackay OBE who gave of his time and encouragement unstintingly. I owe them a huge debt of gratitudeStage 2 of my current cunning plan is, after retirement, following invitations from managers, colleagues and our volunteer group, to continue my involvement with the museum in a new incarnation as a volunteer in legacy projects:• With the Friends of Low Parks Museum helping to digitise the huge Chatelherault archive created in the 1970s from sources all over Scotland. In one of those coincidences which are so common in museum work, Sharon Paton who played a major role in the original Manpower Services Commission project, is now my colleague in the museum service.• Directly with SLLC to digitise our 3 filing cabinets of subject files so we can attach the PDFs to the records in our collection management system (CMS) and dispense with the paper copies.

Leading a nationally funded project in succession planning from 2008 to 2013

Leading a succession planning project in Museums. Invited by Museums Galleries Scotland (MGS) to be a case study for museums in Scotland. Currently in year 2 of a 3-year project in 3 phasesGenerously funded by MGS and the Trustees of The Cameronians

The countdown to my retirement is now running!In August 2017 I will retire after 43 years with museums in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland.Having led a Scottish case study on succession planning earlier in my career, it’s imperative for me to practice what I’ve been preaching. So, for the last year of my part time employment I’ve been focusing on a succession planning project agreed with my managers and colleagues of the museum service of South Lanarkshire Leisure & Culture Ltd (SLLC).The earlier case study was at a national level and generously supported by Museums Galleries Scotland and the Trustees of The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles). The support took the form of both funding to a total of £58k and professional support from the MGS team. It’s my pleasure to thank Gill Findlay then at MGS, Catherine Cartmell, MGS the towers of strength in that project and to honour the memory of the late Lt Colonel Hugh Mackay OBE who gave of his time and encouragement unstintingly. I owe them a huge debt of gratitudeStage 2 of my current cunning plan is, after retirement, following invitations from managers, colleagues and our volunteer group, to continue my involvement with the museum in a new incarnation as a volunteer in legacy projects:• With the Friends of Low Parks Museum helping to digitise the huge Chatelherault archive created in the 1970s from sources all over Scotland. In one of those coincidences which are so common in museum work, Sharon Paton who played a major role in the original Manpower Services Commission project, is now my colleague in the museum service.• Directly with SLLC to digitise our 3 filing cabinets of subject files so we can attach the PDFs to the records in our collection management system (CMS) and dispense with the paper copies.

43 years in museums of lifelong learning and curatorial experience (my profile picture shows me when I first joined the museum service i 1974.)Carer responsibilities at present prevent me from taking up the invitation to volunteer at:- Low Parks Museum - my former employer till my retirement in August 2017.- Friends of Low Parks MuseumResearch into the history and development of the St Leonards area of East Kilbride new townFlaneur - East Kilbride's mix of modernist architectural gems and earlier styles make this activity very rewarding.

managed the museum service, sites ,stores and collections.