Rattray Community Garden - Committee

Born and brought up in Stirlingshire, Jean went to school in Glasgow and studied geography at Dundee and Toronto universities. She spent most of her career working in London for the government as a geographer, working mainly in policy and research, and also lived in York for a few years where she worked as a corporate planner. Jean retired to Rattray in 2019 and joined Blair in Bloom as an outlet for her interest in gardening and environmental matters. She is a member of the Blair in Bloom committee and joined the Rattray Community Garden Management Group in early 2023. She also volunteers for the Royal Scottish Geographical Society in Perth. Jean was awarded an MBE in June 2009 for her geographic research work.

Born and brought up on Milton of Drumlochy Farm near Blairgowrie, William attended the local primary and secondary schools before leaving home to serve an engineering apprenticeship and attend college in Edinburgh. Now retired, William’s career was in mechanical and electrical consultancy where he was responsible for the design, supervision and project management of building services required in the construction industry, working extensively on projects throughout the UK and overseas. As well as his involvement in Rattray Community Garden, William is also a trustee for Blairgowrie and Rattray Development Trust.

Born in Carlisle, Stuart spent all of his childhood in Birmingham before studying at Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh where he qualified as an Architect. He then spent a varied career in housing development through working with the housing association network, Scottish Homes The National Housing Agency, and as a senior manager in a local authority. He retired in 2012 and since then has been an active member of a number of community groups and organisations, including Blairgowrie and Rattray Community Council, Blairgowrie and Rattray Development Trust, and the local hillwalking and curling clubs. Married with two sons, Stuart has lived in Blairgowrie for over 45 years.