The Oban Times

Finlay sails off to a deserved retirement

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A CALMAC services manager from Lewis has hung up his uniform after working for the company for almost half a century.

Finlay Smith, 65, from Great Bernera, has retired after 49 years of service, starting in 1967 as a galley boy on the MG Seaforth for David MacBrayne.

Finlay progressed to assistant pantry boy, before spending a number of years as cook. He became the first second steward to serve on the brand new MV Hebridean Isles in 1985.

Finally, he became onboard service manager on the MV Hebrides, covering the Uig-Lochmaddy-Tarbert route, where he became a familiar and popular crew member.

Finlay said: ‘I’ve seen so many changes in the near half- cen- tury I’ve been a part of David McBrayne and then CalMac, but one thing that has always remained the same is the coming and going of staff and customers – either getting to know people or just passing time with them.’

Retail developmen­t manager Donald MacKillop said Finlay would be greatly missed.

 ??  ?? Donald presents Finlay with a picture of the old MV Hebrides.
Donald presents Finlay with a picture of the old MV Hebrides.

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