Ex policeman turns tour guide
Jim Leslie to show people the sites
A former police superintendent was presented with his official badge by The Duke of Argyll after qualifying as a professional Scottish tourist.
Jim, who lives in Perth, successfully completed an 18 month training course organised by the Scottish Tourist Guides Association to qualify as a professional Scottish Blue Badge tourist guide.
Before becoming a Blue Badge, Jim was a police officer in Tayside for 30 years including roles as divisional superintendent for Perth and Kinross, and later superintendent for Tayside within Police Scotland.
Latterly he was the force planning officer for Police Scotland, planning commanding major events including the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles, and the Open Golf Championships at St Andrews and Troon.
Jim said: “Many of the skills I acquired in 30 years as a police officer are relevant to my new role.
“Problem solving, decision making and communication are all essential elements of guiding, whilst the contacts I made across Scotland are useful in ensuring I can provide the best possible experience for visitors.”
Jim is one of 322 Blue Badge guides in Scotland, qualified to take visitors on tours anywhere in Scotland.
Blue badges are accredited by the World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations and is the only one of its kind in Scotland.
Students study a wide range of subjects including art, archaeology, geology, film and TV, and sports.
They also do regional studies and travel around Scotland and learn how to guide on a coach and at historical sites as well as doing walking tours.
Jim has already organised more than 100 tours across all parts of Scotland, including visits to Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, the Hebrides, Ayrshire and Caithness.
He said: “It has been wonderful to welcome visitors from across the world to our beautiful country.
“We have so much variety in our
Jim Leslie and the Duke of Argyll with the award scenery, history and heritage, and I love sharing it with my guests.”
Jim can provide tailor-made tours to meet individual needs, but his areas of specialism includes whisky tours, Burns tours (he also speaks at Burns Suppers, addressing the haggis, and reciting Tam ‘Shanter and Holy Willie’s Prayer), religion in Scotland (including the Reformation); and Outlander tours.
Jim can be contacted at www. kiltedguide@outlook.com, or on Facebook @kiltedguide