Welcome to our people.

Marion Findlay: Chairperson

Marion has been the Chair of Jock Tamson’s Gairden since it became a registered charity in 2020. She has been employed in the NHS and voluntary sector throughout her working life and brings skills in mental health, volunteer management, community development and charity governance to Jock Tamson’s Gairden

Sarah Gledhill: Secretary

I joined Jock Tamson’s Gairden as a Trustee in March 2023 after retiring from the civil service. The work of the Gairden is important to me as I feel it makes a real difference to the area I live in, and to the people who visit and volunteer there. As a Trustee I can draw on my experience in government in the areas of Environment and Rural Affairs, Children and Families and the Office of the Chief Social Work Adviser. I also volunteer at the SHRUB Zero Waste Hub helping people to repair their clothes, and am a keen cyclist.

Kathleen MacNee: Treasurer

I work in credit risk modelling within a retail bank, making me familiar (although not expert!) with balance sheets and forecasting. So I am the numbers girl. I was first introduced to the Gairden by Marion during lockdown and fell in love with the setting, feeling of peace and reach of its work. I had been looking for volunteering opportunities since moving to Edinburgh in 2019 and when the Treasurer role came up it felt like a great opportunity to get involved as a help rather than a hindrance as even keeping houseplants alive is a struggle!

Fiona Scott

I have been a trustee since we became an independent trust in 2020 and a volunteer for a couple of years before then. I was asked to become a trustee because I felt passionate about making the garden a success and I love working with people. I have a background in social work and one area of expertise I bring to the trust is in safeguarding and public protection. I consider my role is to advise and ensure everyone who uses the garden, no matter how vulnerable, is safe. One of my tasks was to write the Safeguarding Policy and Practice Guidelines as well as making sure all the volunteers and trustees understand how to keep people safe.

Nora Aitchison

My name is Norah, I am 73 years old, retired and live with my partner in Colinton. I am an Elder of Duddingston Kirk where I have been a member for 51 years. When the minister decided to develop the glebe area, I was on the original panel for choosing the manager of the glebe project . After Jock Tamson’s Gairden became a charitable trust the I was asked by the Kirk Session to be a Kirk appointed trustee. I was very pleased to accept. In addition to trustee duties I assist at the Gairden’s events.

Debs Reid

Bereavement led me to Jock Tamson’s Gairden as a volunteer in 2019 and since then I have been lucky enough to find sanctuary, solace and friendship in the garden. It is a magical place and I was delighted to become a trustee in 2020. As a working gardener, I contribute to the garden’s horticultural development and having swapped a career in Marketing and PR for plants, my experience of communications, fundraising and event management also comes in handy!

Harry Elwin

I am a Kirk appointed trustee, an Elder of Duddingston Kirk and live locally. I am now retired after a career in logistics. My main task as a trustee is to look after the website, some of the social media and other IT related stuff. I also bring experience of working for a large employer and am familiar with good practice in health and safety.
It is a joy to be involved in this ‘Church without walls’ project.