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Olwyn's Story 
In this first profile we feature our founder Councillor Olwyn Macdonald
I was born in Torquay in 1932.
I was in WRAF when I met Michael Judge. We were married in Glasgow in 1953.
We lived in a tenement in Glasgow. We had one room and a kitchen and no possibilities for a better Council house, as we had only one child.
At this time the overspill from the central belt were being offered employment in the new Scottish Pulp and Paper Mills in Corpach. There was the added attraction of Local Authority housing.
Michael applied for a job in 1965, with the hope of a better standard of living with a front and a back door and a small garden. He was successful and
in March of that year he came up to Lochaber, alone as I did not want to move any further north. Eventually I was persuaded to join him in May.
Later I applied for jobs. The Lochaber Bar and the Caol Bookmakers were starting at the time. I got a part-time job with the 'Bookies'. I worked there for twenty-four years, as fulltime manageress for the last thirteen years.
I was involved with the Village Council and the village hall, built by the residents, who came from Annat.
The old hall was destroyed by fire. I was then the treasurer of The Caol Village Council. We formed a committee of fifteen ladies, residents of Caol to raise money for a new village hall. The Inverness County Council wanted to see the 'colour of our pound notes' before considering our plea for financial support.
I remember, we used to raffle two five pound notes, weekly in Young's Post Office! We raised enough money to persuade the Scottish Office to provide the funding for a new Caol Community Centre.
I was a District Councillor for the old part of Caol, then I was a Regional Councillor for Caol, Lochyside and Inverlochy. Since changes in Local Authority I have served as a councillor with The Highland Council.
I was honoured to have worked with Iain Dubh, my second husband and to follow him as convenor of Lochaber Area Committee. I always feel emotional when I see my picture below Iain's in the council chamber.
I had to struggle nearly all my life. I was brought up by my grandparents. My strong socialist beliefs come from living in Kinning Park , Glasgow from 1953 until I came to Caol.
I have suffered from more than my fair share of personal loss and ill health. I have lost two husbands. I suffered from chronic respiratory illness since I was four years old and had to take early retirement due to severe asthma. Twelve years ago, I had breast cancer with secondaries in lymph glands. With the help of our great NHS, I am still here and working to satisfy my ambitions to serve the community.
My interest in Caol has always been with the community and the beautiful environment that we have. My pleasure has been to see the progress that Caol in Bloom has made to the area, the involvement of the community and particularly the willingness of the senior citizens, who have made the project such a success.
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