Interviews of Louise Kerr aged 55

Biographical interview with Louise Kerr (b.1959) whose father ran the ironmonger's shop in Port William. Louise explained that she had been born at the family farm near Whauphill. However, after the dairy herd had to be put down after an outbreak of bracken poisoning, her father took the opportunity to sell up and move into the village to run the shop. She gives a little history about the Kerr family and the ironmonger's shop before her father took it on. This includes information about several farms in the Newton Stewart and Whauphill areas. Louise recalls that the ironmongery business was a very successful one and reflects that this was in part due to the time.

Louise's father had taken on the shop in 1963 and retired in 1985. During this time-span, people were still doing a lot of their shopping locally as public transport and car ownership were not yet widespread. Louise recalls her time working in the shop and noted that the shop didn't change at all while her father had the business. She also recalls the businesses which have been in that premises since 1985. The remainder of the interview is about Louise's current job as a reporter with the Galloway Gazette, where she has worked since 1996. During this time, the paper has gone from having it's own print works and being privately owned to being a digital operation which is part of the Johnston Press portfolio of over 300 titles. Louise reflects on change over time in both her current job and her father's business.