Interviews of Alex Haswell aged 58

Biographical interview with Alex Haswell (b.1954) who was born and grew up in Whithorn. In the early part of this interview Alex talks about his parents, childhood, schooldays and memories of Whithorn. He recalled the rivalry between the top and bottom of the town and could remember when the refuse was collected by horse and cart. Alex went to Aberdeen University to study law and continued to return during the holidays. He particularly remembered his time at the Solway precast works. The work was hard and dirty and brought him into contacts with prisoners from Penninghame who were placed there when they got near their release date.

Alex is a senior executive with Dumfries and Galloway council and the rest of this interview is concerned with civic and administrative aspects of life in the region. Although now based in Stranraer, Alex's knowledge extends back to his youth and a time when his father worked for Whithorn Burgh council. He has been working in local government since 1975 and is able to reflect on the advantages and drawbacks of having a more centralised system of governance. Other subjects included in this interview include: family associations with the Church and religious life in general; recreation; transport; community; housing and important local families. Towards the end of the interview Alex reflects on the future for Whithorn. He feels the main challenges facing the area, and the whole of Dumfries and Galloway, relate to: an ageing population and increasing healthcare demands; the need to build an infrastructure for tourism; encouraging new business development; improving internet access and tackling the shopping streets in the communities.