News from Bruce made a great talk
Members of Gatehouse SWI thoroughly enjoyed a visit from Bruce McKenzie at their latest meeting.
Bruce is currently a correspondent on Border Life and until recently was well known as a reporter on Lookaround, however, it turns out Bruce has done so much more, and recounting his life had members laughing for over an hour.
Bruce’s grandfather William McKenzie, a journalist, was the first reporter on the scene of Little Ross Island when a murder was committed in 1960, a lighthouse keeper having killed his colleague.
William’s reporting was syndicated internationally and from then on he was referred to as ‘Scoop’ McKenzie.
Bruce from a very young age helped his grandpa with the South of Scotland football results, involving ringing round the clubs and pubs for the scores, typing them up and then sending them to Preston via a huge, very early model, fax machine.
This clearly set Bruce on a future career in journalism.
Whilst at Kirkcudbright Academy, Bruce went on work experience at the local radio station in Dumfries which was a great success.
However he has always been enthusiastic about singing and playing guitar, and was asked, even though he was still a school, to be involved with Kirkcudbright Summer Festivities of which he eventually became the festival director.
At university in Paisley whilst studying for degree he contacted West Sound who offered him some more work experience and was then offered the Drive Time show for two weeks, while someone was off work.
Although worried about this interfering with his studies he gained an Honours degree and then worked for West Sound Radio for many years.
Following this Bruce was contacted by the BBC and worked for them for six years, driving to Glasgow everyday.
By then his children had been born and he wanted to be closer to home and STV offered him a job as a reporter covering the Ayrshire area on television.
It was fast paced and exciting and he enjoyed it even though initially he was unfamiliar with the Ayrshire region.
He then moved to Lookaround which enabled him to be at home more, although his place has now been taken by Barnaby Papadopulos as Bruce, alongside Sandy McCracken, now presents Border Life on ITV at 7pm on Friday evenings. He also manages to fit in evening and weekend bookings with his ceilidh band and wedding band.
Nancy gave a vote of thanks to Bruce for taking time out of his busy schedule to entertain the ladies, describing behind the scenes the world of radio and television, evidently not always as glamorous as it might appear.
The June day trip will be a visit to Dumfries House in Ayrshire on June 19. The coach will pick up at 10.30am at the Ship and Murray Arms.
The cost of the outing £42 and includes an evening meal at Galloway Arms in Crocketford before returning home. Family and friends welcome to come along.
Gatehouse SWI is hosting a coffee morning on May 4 at 10.30am in the church hall. Margaret asked members to donate raffle prizes and sale table items.
Competition results:
Tea towel – 1 Chris; 2 Yvonne; 3 Evelyn.
Jar of marmalade – 1 Chris; 2 Alison; 3 Kathleen.
FOTM – 1 Margaret; 2 Yvonne; 3 Chris.