Tribute to Pauline

Sir,

I read the moving obituary to Pauline Muir in your paper of Friday June 12 and would like to add my own tribute to her, if I may.

I first met Pauline in December 1978 when, as a very shy teenager. I started work for her on the Government’s Youth Opportunities Programme at the Tourist Information Centre, which back then was still the Portakabin. I had no confidence, but Pauline encouraged me every step of the way. Whether that was sending me to the mainland to sit exams or taking me round the island to meet local businesses to try and get raffle prizes for some event going on.

I remember well the weekend move across the car park from the tightly packed Portakabin to the new Tourist Information Centre. There was also the official opening when dignitaries arrived from the mainland to join local invited guests to admire the new building.

Life at the TIC was never dull with Pauline at the helm. The winter may have been quiet with visitors but there was plenty of work to be done – answering letters, making bookings or checking the new accommodation register before it went to print. In the summer it was crazy busy with people, especially when we took bookings for the Waverley sailings, with each ticket being written by hand.

Pauline was very hard working and had great organisational skills. As has already been said, she loved her horse riding, often popping into the office in her riding gear on her day off, just to check all was well. She always had at least one dog and a couple of cats. Bridge was a large part of her life and so, too, was growing Begonias. She used to attend the Harrogate show and win prizes.

I feel very fortunate to have met Pauline, we kept in touch through all the years and met up a few times.

It is good to know she wished to return to

Arran to be with her husband.

Yours,

Sarah Carr, Warwick.