Pat’s new focus leads to award nomination
An ex-serviceman from Caol has been shortlisted for a prestigious business award after sharing “little pieces of Scotland” with people the world over.
Originally from Merseyside, Pat McElhinney served in the Royal Navy for five years and then 27 years in the Fire and Rescue Service, the last 10 of which he served as the senior officer with Highlands and Islands Fire Service.
On retiring in 2019 Pat set up as a professional landscape photographer to offer people from all over the world a little piece of Scotland in their homes.
“I love Scotland and its vast spaces, its raw and rugged scenery,” he told the Lochaber Times. “I hope people feel they can immerse themselves through my work. Even if they can’t come Scotland themselves, Scotland can go to them.”
Because of this work, Pat has been shortlisted for the 2023 Scottish Ex-Forces in Business Awards in the
Entrepreneur of the Year category. Transitioning from the military into a meaningful second career is known to be a notoriously difficult endeavour for many Armed Forces veterans and Pat is keen to help others who are finding life “on the other side” difficult.
“It’s important ex-servicemen are given the help to find other careers once they leave and these awards play a crucial role in promoting the huge value ex-forces personnel add in their second careers.
“There are quite a lot of ex-forces personnel in the area and I would like to think I could inspire them to find work in something they love doing.”
Since moving to Scotland in 2008 with wife Sandra, Pat is on his third career and is loving life on the west coast. He is equally thrilled to be promoting the area through his photography.
His photographs and calendars are sent all over the world and he has more than 61,000 followers on Facebook and almost 3,000 on Instagram.
“I really enjoyed my time in the fire service where I was able to transfer the skills I picked up in the Navy,” he said. “When I left school I had intended doing a fine arts degree in Liverpool.
“I joined the Navy ‘by accident’ when I was dropping a friend off to sit his test. An officer there asked if I was too stupid to pass the test so I did it and the rest was history. I got in and unfortunately my friend didn’t! Basically the choice was be a student and be skint or join the Navy and see the world. I took my camera with me and recorded a lot of life on my travels which is probably where my love of photography came from.”
Pat transferred the skills he picked up in the Navy to his career in the fire service and now into his photography business.
To see more of Pat’s work visit www.myhighlandphotography.com.
The awards received more than 300 nominations and from this exceptional display of talent in the Armed Forces community, the shortlists showcase the wide breadth of qualities and skills among veterans in Scotland. The winners will be revealed at the Scottish Ex-Forces in Business Awards ceremony and gala dinner on Tuesday April 18 in the DoubleTree by Hilton Glasgow’s Grand Ballroom.