Colin MacNeill
Chairman,
The College of Piping
16 – 28 Otago Street,
Glasgow, G12 8JH
October 31st 2017
Dear Colin,
With great regret I have to write to you to say that I will be resigning my position of Director of Piping at the College.
I am not sure if this will come to you as a total surprise. Quite simply I feel that as things stand at the College I am not in a position to be able to achieve my goals for a modern, progressive, and efficient teaching college. This is due to many different factors, almost all of which I am sure you are well aware of.
This is a decision which I have made reluctantly and one which I have given a great deal of thought to over a considerable period of time; I have always felt that the Board and particularly yourself have had the utmost faith in me. The job has become very much different from the one which I originally agreed to do.
Quite simply, the working ambience at the College for the past few months has been unpleasant, and it has not improved since the departure and replacement of the previous Business Manager. The working habits and relationships within the staff at the College seem to have become entrenched and institutionalised and I find that I am continually compromised and forced to lower my expectations to a level which I cannot accept. I have also been considerably surprised by the fiercely political situations which seem to crop up on a regular basis and which become exaggerated with people who are associated with the College.
There is never a good time to do this, and I have considered the College in not doing so until now. I am of course aware that I am contractually bound at the College for a period of three months, but I hope that there is a willingness to compromise on this. My own personal preference would be that the notice and payment period is waved on both sides so that I may leave immediately, because I do not think that it is in the best overall interest of the College for me to stay. I perhaps could revert back to one day per week and make a gradual exit if that suited, but in any event I would be willing to act in any unpaid advisory capacity for the College before, during, and after the arrangement of a successor. I have a great deal of affection for the College and want it to succeed in the future.
Although it would no longer be my place to say, I am of the opinion that the College needs to search for someone who can combine business, playing and teaching skills along with youth and enthusiasm, and appoint that person on a full - time basis as a replacement for the current positions of Director of Piping and College Manager.
I wish to thank you personally Colin for the way you have dealt and treated me during the short time I have been involved. I do wish that it might have turned out better but the situation is one which quite simply had made me unhappy for months and I cannot allow that to continue any longer. I know that we shall quite likely discuss this personally in the near future and can say that I will keep this completely confidential between us until it is beneficial for the College for it to become known. I think it is in the best interests of the College that my departure might eventually be described perhaps as a move which allows a different staffing approach and with my role continuing as friend and advisor to the College.
With best and most sincere good wishes,
Colin
Chairman,
The College of Piping
16 – 28 Otago Street,
Glasgow, G12 8JH
October 31st 2017
Dear Colin,
With great regret I have to write to you to say that I will be resigning my position of Director of Piping at the College.
I am not sure if this will come to you as a total surprise. Quite simply I feel that as things stand at the College I am not in a position to be able to achieve my goals for a modern, progressive, and efficient teaching college. This is due to many different factors, almost all of which I am sure you are well aware of.
This is a decision which I have made reluctantly and one which I have given a great deal of thought to over a considerable period of time; I have always felt that the Board and particularly yourself have had the utmost faith in me. The job has become very much different from the one which I originally agreed to do.
Quite simply, the working ambience at the College for the past few months has been unpleasant, and it has not improved since the departure and replacement of the previous Business Manager. The working habits and relationships within the staff at the College seem to have become entrenched and institutionalised and I find that I am continually compromised and forced to lower my expectations to a level which I cannot accept. I have also been considerably surprised by the fiercely political situations which seem to crop up on a regular basis and which become exaggerated with people who are associated with the College.
There is never a good time to do this, and I have considered the College in not doing so until now. I am of course aware that I am contractually bound at the College for a period of three months, but I hope that there is a willingness to compromise on this. My own personal preference would be that the notice and payment period is waved on both sides so that I may leave immediately, because I do not think that it is in the best overall interest of the College for me to stay. I perhaps could revert back to one day per week and make a gradual exit if that suited, but in any event I would be willing to act in any unpaid advisory capacity for the College before, during, and after the arrangement of a successor. I have a great deal of affection for the College and want it to succeed in the future.
Although it would no longer be my place to say, I am of the opinion that the College needs to search for someone who can combine business, playing and teaching skills along with youth and enthusiasm, and appoint that person on a full - time basis as a replacement for the current positions of Director of Piping and College Manager.
I wish to thank you personally Colin for the way you have dealt and treated me during the short time I have been involved. I do wish that it might have turned out better but the situation is one which quite simply had made me unhappy for months and I cannot allow that to continue any longer. I know that we shall quite likely discuss this personally in the near future and can say that I will keep this completely confidential between us until it is beneficial for the College for it to become known. I think it is in the best interests of the College that my departure might eventually be described perhaps as a move which allows a different staffing approach and with my role continuing as friend and advisor to the College.
With best and most sincere good wishes,
Colin