I started work as an office junior with the Thomson Foundation Television College in Newton Mearns in Glasgow when I was 17. I was taken under the wing of Phyl Entwistle, the senior secretary, who was wonderful to work with.

The College held residential training courses in television production and engineering for people who were already employed in stations in developing countries. They also sent lecturers to train staff in TV stations in countries such as India, Zimbabwe, Bahrain and China. It was an interesting place to work, meeting people from all over the world and learning a little about the world of broadcasting.

In 1985 the College ceased residential courses in the UK and the lecturers concentrated all their efforts on training overseas. We moved from Newton Mearns to an office in the centre of Glasgow and became The Thomson Foundation Broadcasting Division. By then I was a fully-fledged secretary – and the only one remaining as Phyl had retired and the others had been made redundant. In 1990 it was decided to centralise all the Foundation’s offices in Cardiff, where the press division and head office were based.

I was keen to remain in the broadcasting field and wrote to BBC Scotland, STV and my favourite radio station - Radio Clyde. At first there was no response from these organisations so I applied for a job at the Southern General Hospital and was offered it.

A few days later, a letter arrived from Alex Dickson, the programme director at Radio Clyde. He asked me to come in for a chat, which I did, and my first impression was that this was the place I would love to work. I liked the informal atmosphere and everyone was so friendly – the swimming pool, staff restaurant and gym were attractions too!

Alex offered me a position as secretary in the programming department, and I jumped at the chance to join the station I’d listened to since it first hit the airwaves at the end of 1973. I felt as if I already knew all the presenters as I’d been listening to them for years and was a big fan, particularly of DJ Mike Riddoch and, being a keen football supporter, the weekly football show “Super Scoreboard Live!”

I was sorry to have to tell the people at the Southern General Hospital that I wouldn’t be joining them after all, but there was no way I could knock-back the chance to join the team I’d always wanted to play for!

I joined Radio Clyde on 1st March 1990 - the day after the Thomson Foundation closed its Glasgow office. At that time BBC TV sports presenter Dougie Donnelly was Clyde 1’s head of music and Mike Riddoch was head of music at sister station Clyde 2 – I worked as their secretary. I couldn’t believe I was working with “Riddy”!

I’ve worked with various heads of music over the years, including Ross Macfadyen who is now programme director. My friend and colleague, Evelyn MacNeill, the managing director’s PA, retired in June 2003 and I was asked by the MD, Paul Cooney, to take over temporarily till he found a replacement – I’m still here!

My role is quite varied – as well as working with Paul, I also still work with Ross Macfadyen. Some of my other duties include arranging interviews for Alex Dickson’s “Authors” programme and Tom Ferrie’s “Drivetime Show”; keeping the newspapers updated with programme listings; arranging payments for news and sports contributors; replying to listeners’ email queries and making the odd cup of coffee.

I can’t imagine working in a “normal” office environment. I sometimes hear friends talk about office politics, cliques and bickering in the places they work – that doesn’t happen here. Everyone works as a team, we all get on really well, and work hard, but in a happy and friendly atmosphere. Everyone is on first-name terms – the managing director is Paul, not Mr. Cooney - and he takes an interest in every single one of his staff. Both he and Ross make you feel that you work with rather than for them.

This really is my dream job – where else could I come to work and have a swim before breakfast, chat with Michael Buerk as I take him along to the “Authors” studio, discuss Saturday’s football matches with the MD, listen in to Jamie Cullum playing the baby grand in the Radio Clyde Piano Bar and meet my teen idol, Donny Osmond, at an intimate gig in the evening?