Retired Edinburgh tour guide relives career on special day out
An Edinburgh care home resident was given a ‘passport to fun’ as she fulfilled her wish to return to work for the day.
Anne McNeil, a 74-year-old resident living at Care UK’s Murrayside in Corstorphine, secured her first job as a tour guide in the 1960s. When she shared how much she’d love to experience it again, the team arranged a one-of-a-kind experience to help her step back into her former role.
Throughout her career, Anne worked at Edinburgh Castle and Rosslyn Chapel, then as a tour guide on Edinburgh Buses, before retiring in 2024.
Anne said: “I had great relationships with the tour bus drivers; we worked great as a team and always supported each other.
“My favourite place to speak about on my tours was St Margaret's Chapel; there’s so much history there!”
As part of the aptly named “Anne’s Edinburgh Tour”, Anne, accompanied by her family, residents and team members, donned bespoke t-shirts and created signs before setting off on a minibus for an exclusive guided tour of the city.
A true professional, Anne began the tour at Edinburgh Castle before leading the group down the Royal Mile, sharing historical insights and stories about the city’s iconic landmarks along the way.
The tour ended with a visit to the Scottish Storytelling Centre, where everyone tucked into Anne's favourite meal of haggis, neeps and tatties.
Anne said: “I had a brilliant time; thank you to everyone who joined me! I hope I didn't bore anyone by speaking so much!”
Suzanne Welsh, Home Manager at Murrayside, said: “Anne loves sharing memories from her days as a tour guide, so it was wonderful to arrange this trip down memory lane – needless to say, we’ve all learnt a lot about the history of Edinburgh!
“Our Wishing Tree initiative is a great way for residents to share their passions and ambitions; it’s so rewarding to be able to make these wishes a reality. Anne had a brilliant time sharing historical facts with her tour group, reminiscing about her career and picking back up where she left off.
“I’d like to extend a massive thank you to the team and residents here at Murrayside who came together to help make Anne’s dream come true; we’re already looking forward to our next outing.”