Carole was a lifelong member of the Educational Institute of Scotland.
But she was much more than that. She devoted long hours and much energy on active participation in E.I.S. activities, locally, regionally and nationally.
Carole was President of Perth and Kinross local association and President of Tayside Regional Executive. She was a former member of the national executive council of the institute and a member of its Education Committee. She served as the primary teachers' representative on Perth and Kinross Education and Childrens' Services Committee for eight years and was the joint secretary of the Joint Negotiating Committee for Teachers.
We celebrate such a record of service and achievement.
In everything she did on behalf of the E.I.S. she worked in the interests of all teachers - from classroom teachers (for she had been a classroom teacher herself for most of her career) to headteachers - a position she attained all too recently. Carole retained a deep, fundamental and passionate belief in the value and worth of trade union activity on behalf of teachers but also for the benefit of education, schools and children. She continued that interest and that committment all her life and kept in touch with developments locally even when she was very ill. Only a few weeks ago she was expressing her views - with her usual direct candour - on issues surrounding the reduction of class contact time in primary schools next session.
Carole was fearless and very, very determined but she was also full of humour and fun and those of us who worked with her will remember that with great gratitude and warmth.
Education in Perth and Kinross was the richer for her presence, and her colleagues in the E.I.S. owe an enormous amount to her. They relied a very great deal on her judgement and her excellent common sense. They will miss her very much.