Directors

Catriona Watson – Chair

Michael Alvey-Anderson

Along with Lynne, Michael is one of our newest Directors, joining the company in 2022.

Originally from Edinburgh, Michael moved to middle England in his early 20s to pursue his love of all things cars and motorsport related. Finding his calling, he has spent the last 20+ years working with cars and computers. Michael moved to the area in February 2021, setting up a small homestead with his family.

In his spare time, Michael enjoys being outside, rowing, football, mountain biking, motorsport, wildlife and bird watching, walking, and spending time with his family.

Chris Nelson

Chris was born and raised in Fort William before moving to Fort Augustus in 1994 with his long term partner Felicity. They rented a flat at The Old Convent while running a small B & B then starting a business building, shed, garages and stables. They bought the Old Convent in 2009, which was in a bad state of repair, they are still renovating but are running a self catering business from the renovated bit!

Music has always been a huge part of his life since learning the guitar as a teenager.  He played in a school punk band, started a two piece cover band “The Bizz” with Hamish MacKay playing in pubs and clubs for about 10yrs. I took up the fiddle later in life and have played in a couple of traditional bands whilst also teaching guitar.  I am currently in a cover band with another Director, Lorn MacKay.

He has been self- employed for many years preferring to ‘Plough his own furrow’ in life and being told what to do by a boss really didn’t work for him!  Not one for authority and never having time for organisations, clubs, associations etc (he says the punk ethos never leaves you) He is about as far away from the stereotypical director type as you could get. So when it was suggested that he become a director he thought that since he loves this area and village he wanted to do his bit for the community coupled with his ideology and could bring something different to the Community Company…

Fran Mansell

Fran re-joined the Board of Directors in December 2022 having enjoyed a three-year stint twelve years ago.

Fran from Lancashire, developed a love for Scotland after enjoying boating and caravan holidays with her family. This prompted Fran to move here eighteen years ago. Since then she has taken an active part in the community and first joined the board twelve years ago.

Previously an Auxiliary Nurse, Fran has developed a love for Scottish music and enjoys meeting with the Scottish Dancing Group in Invermoriston and throwing out a Dashing White Sergeant or two!

Fran also joins a local walking group every week and has created some good friendships over the years from it.

Also a Director of Tarff Trading, Fran joined the Board of Directors because she is keen on the area benefitting from more affordable housing and firmly believes in keeping the local hardware store, now Tarff Trading, as a community owned entity.

Improving leisure facilities and areas such as the local playpark is a route Fran would love to see explored.

Fiona MacCormick

Fiona is one of the Directors co-opted onto the Board in 2022.

As someone born and raised in Fort Augustus Fiona has a wealth of knowledge about growing up in the community.

Fiona left the Highlands for a while to study music at College in Glasgow and then headed off to explore Australia, where she tried her hand at farming Australian style.

Having returned to Fort Augustus she now juggles lots of different things from working at The Legion and her Mum’s shop to singing in a rock band.

A busy lady, but she also wanted to become a Director at the Community Company. Her aim is to understand what is available to the community and to help and encourage them to take advantage of the opportunities.

Fiona is involved with the new community growing initiative a subject she is passionate about. She also helps out teaching children to sing, another of her passions.

Lorn MacKay

Lorn is a local joiner and business owner, and brings a wealth of knowledge about the local community…

As well as serving on the Community Company Board, Lorn is also a reserve Fireman at Fort Augustus Fire Station.

A keen musician, Lorn is…

Patrick Ungless

Pat was elected to the Board in 2022.

Originally from Suffolk, Pat worked for many years in IT, becoming a Senior Manager in a large IT services company before forming his own Management Consultancy in partnership with a colleague, providing support to companies for procurement of IT outsourcing services.

While walking the West Highland Way in 2001 with his wife Val, the notion that a life style change away from the busy south had a growing appeal, triggering a move to Invermoriston in 2002, to start a holiday accommodation and B&B business, which they ran for the next 12 years. Anticipating retirement, they bought a house in Inchnacardoch, best known to older locals as “Elsie’s house” in 2012 and spent 3 years gutting and renovating it before moving there in 2015.

Active in the community, Pat was a founder member of the Glenmoriston Heritage Group and a committee member of the Millennium Hall, occupying the role of Treasurer for 15 years, before standing down in 2021. Introduction to local culture motivated him to learn to play the accordion and with some modest success, he progressed to play for monthly Ceilidhs held in the Millennium Hall for many years. He is a Director of Fèis Gleann Albainn, our local traditional music charity.

He applied to become a director of FAGCC in order to continue his community involvement and the hope that his previous experiences and local knowledge would enable him to make a useful contribution. In November 2023, Pat volunteered himself as the Community Company’s GDPR Officer.

In retirement, Pat’s principal interests and activities are photography, an active member of the Great Glen Camera Club, learning to play new tunes and tinkering with his 50 year old classic car (a yellow Triumph for those old enough to remember) he rebuilt in 1995 that can be seen occasionally driving through the village and riding his bike in an attempt to defer the aging process.

Kelvin Hill

Paul MacIntosh

Helen Clay – Vice Chair