I first came to the Findhorn Foundation’s Cluny Hill College 25 years ago and spent most of my time working in the kitchen. My journey here began during a low point in my teaching career in Glasgow, when I had come to see teenagers as being violent. My perspective changed completely on a visit to the Park when I saw two groups of teenagers running towards each other, not to fight, but to hug. This moment made me realise there was something special here.

I joined the Community and found myself in Cluny Kitchen, where I taught some people the basics and learned a lot myself from others, who would introduce me to their cultures through cooking.

I’ve seen many changes over time as our community culture was affected by new health and safety rules, residency requirements, and pay structures. It wasn’t always easy, and being on the management team was particularly tricky, as I had to balance the demands of the organisation with the needs of the staff.

For me, the best part of living at Cluny was the strong sense of community and camaraderie. I also found a spiritual home that allowed me to explore my out-of-body experiences and connect with nature in a way I couldn’t before.

Having left Cluny, I am missing the sense of togetherness, the lively conversations over meals, and the easy collaboration that came from living and working alongside such talented people.

I was strongly connected to the Panto tradition in the village I came from, and I brought that with me to the Community. Over the years I have written and directed many Pantos performed at Cluny and now I’m in the process of writing and directing a new pantomime to be performed in the Universal Hall in November this year. The support from the community is helping me stay connected to this place I still love.