Mamie Bruce-Gardyne
Biography
Mamie Bruce-Gardyne retired to Angus, where her family are known to have lived since 1008 AD. She had worked in Housekeeping at St Thomas' Hospital in London and loved the job so much that she started a B&B, when she got to Scotland. Her Brother said he was throwing out his old computer, so she said "throw it in my direction and I can use it for my business". At that time a neighbouring farmer committed suicide because of the farming situation and she thought, if people like that got intrigued by the Net, they might be diverted, or even be able to diversify. So she let it be known that neighbours could come for a cuppie and use the P.C.
One dark winter's night a Meeting was held at Glenisla Village Hall to test interest in a Cross Glen Computer Group. About 60-70 people were there and one of them was Dr Norman Alm. By pure chance we sat next to each other and got talking. He was looking for a group of guinea pigs to test his theories on technology and the older person. He said "I will come out and teach you for free, if you can gather some people." Shortly afterwards we applied to the Scottish Parliament for a second pc, which had to be housed in a public place. So the Airlie Cyber Cafe was born, every Wednesday morning in the Airlie Village Hall, 'owned' by the Village Hall Committee. Large plates of home bakes and coffee or tea aids the "blithering" and it is far more a social event than technical.
4 years later, we have done many things and acquired lots of extra equipment. We have entered competitions with money prizes and been to conferences, showing our collection of pictures. We have met Princess Anne, where we talked about her garden problems, not IT! The whole enterprise has got a momentum of its own. It forms a hub for information and virus warnings; a network of tuition and problem solving; a source for borrowing equipment and producing posters and cards; advertisements for local businesses and events; and a means of communication with like minded country people across the seven Angus hill communities, outwith Kirriemuir and Brechin.