135 weeks ago, the Evening Telegraph printed my first weekly column. For DC Thomson to believe in me has been nothing short of incredible. Now, 135 weeks later, they’ve printed my last – for now, I hope.
DC Thomson has been an inspiration to me from the very beginning and will remain so long after this column ends. Building the next generation of journalists is what they do best. And, of course, I’m a huge fan of The Beano!
But the true catalyst for this column was Dundee Culture, the social media platform I created at the age of 12. It has undoubtedly changed my life. At that time, I could never have imagined writing a weekly column for my local newspaper. Yet here I am.
I hope to collaborate with DC Thomson again in the future, especially with next year marking their 120th anniversary. This organisation, especially the Tele and The Courier, hold a special place in my heart, helping me get to where I am today.
Over the last two years, it has been an honour to write about Dundee and its culture. From covering the city’s rise as a global tech hub to sharing ideas about its future – and more recently promoting Mills Observatory, which has seen a significant increase in visitors – this column has given me a platform to be part of Dundee’s story.
As I reflected on what a final column should look like, I realised this was the perfect opportunity to express my gratitude.
So many people have supported me on this journey and helped me grow as a writer. Morag Lindsay, Emma Crichton, Marc Deanie, Brian Stormont, and Ross Logan – each of them has been there to guide and encourage me. I owe them a heartfelt thank you for bringing my ideas to the public.
My family has also been my rock. My mum Gillian, dad Stuart, big brother Ross – and even our new kitten Frankie – have been my biggest cheerleaders. I’m lucky to have such a close and supportive family.
My mentor, Irene Duncan, the former head of publishing at DC Thomson, was the one who pitched the idea for this column. Without her belief in me, none of this would have been possible.
There’s one person I wish could see me today: my Auntie Lorraine. She was the inspiration behind my very first column and, in my eyes, Dundee’s biggest advocate. I think she would be proud to see how much both the city and I have grown.
Although my column continues on the Dundee Culture website in the new year, I leave this chapter with 135 weeks of experience and wisdom gained from some of Dundee’s most talented journalists.
Dundee’s future is bright, with incredible opportunities on the horizon. The city continues to amaze me – its people, passion, and ambition never fail to inspire.
And so, I’ll end with the same words I began with:
I’m proud to be a born and bred Dundonian.
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