So it's 'Goodnight' from me

[2 May 2006]

Capt. Bill Wingate takes over from Stewart McCulloch, OBE as chairman for Crimestoppers Scotland.

It was a moment I'll never forget – here was I head down getting on with the daily grind at STV when the Controller sauntered in and informed me that I was to represent the station on the Board of Crimestoppers Scotland.

Company policy – but you could have knocked me down with a feather. What? I had been in since 7am and now to add insult to injury I was being asked to join what I perceived to be some bunch of do-gooders!

Knowing very little about the organisation, I thought that Crimestoppers was part of the police and had no idea that it was an independent charity which relied almost entirely on public support.

A little awkward at first but I soon warmed to the task when I discovered what a difference calling the anonymous phone number 0800 555 111 could really make to transform people's lives.

Sunday Post Editor and fellow newspaper ‘hack' Ian Bruce was the Chairman of the Board which boasted big guns like top cops Peter Wilson and Andrew Brown who both later rose to become Chief Constables.

Later, I became Deputy Chairman by chance – the lady board member Ian wanted for his deputy declined. Then Ian stepped down and I found myself working to PKF accountant Subhash Joshi MBE, the first Asian President of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce.

Tragically, after only a few months in the Chair, Shubhash collapsed and died aged only 47 while visiting a sick relative in Kenya. Hundreds of people turned out to show their respects for him at his funeral in Scotland's capital city when he was remembered for his professionalism, intelligence and integrity. And all that with good humour and urbanity.

In itinerant mode the Scottish Board was invited to hold its next meeting at BP's Grangemouth Headquarters and although the official stand in I was not interested in the top job as I realised from past experience what needed to be done and informed the meeting of my intentions accordingly.

But as Convener Jim Doherty, BP's Communications supremo at the time and the man in charge of our website, Jim Anderson, will recall at our next meeting at a restaurant owned by Board colleague John Don in Edinburgh, I relented and agreed to become Chairman which began a love affair with the job which has spanned six years.

Not that it was always easy. At the time I took over it was a struggle to make ends meet relying as we still do on donations. Eventually, all of Scotland's eight police forces came on board – not forgetting the SCDEA and the new SPSA - when they realised what the anonymity factor could deliver and this probably more than any other single factor allowed us to punch above our weight. I salute them all.

We couldn't afford anything hardly but then I discovered a young but mega talented graphics-and-ideas outfit Crave of Greenock. Working closely together we developed wizard campaigns like ‘Dream On…make a difference' the highly-acclaimed youth crime campaign launched by heartthrob Darius, ‘HEAR for you 24/7' which heralded round-the-clock call handling in Scotland, ‘In Too Deep' the crackdown on loan sharks, ‘Play the Game', ‘Live Well, Live Safe' in the North and many more which I was able to attach money to from the Scottish Executive and the Royal Bank of Scotland and BT who fell for these innovative marketing concepts.

Meantime, as big things began to happen I liaised with our police partners and took the counsel of Mr Graeme Pearson, now Director General of the Scottish Crime and Drugs Enforcement Agency who told me that our operations had to expand or they would stagnate.

Sound advice which spawned plans for a strategic expansion which led to the creation of three sub committees Grampian/Highland, Central Fife Tayside and the Lothian and Borders with Dumfries, Galloway and Ayrshire completing our ambitious re-structuring.

I pushed on with our new ‘localising' plan first with deputy Sunday Post News Editor Colin Grant and completed it approximately three years later thanks to former Radio Forth broadcasting supremo Adam Findlay who was latterly the right hand of a ‘dream team' and has since cast off to sail the ‘Grand Blue' in his new yacht with his charming young family.

The ambitious scheme which enabled us to reach every corner of the country has really paid off with members serving on those committees working closely with the police, local councils and fire and rescue services to address issues in the area where board members live and work.

Each multi-purpose group has its own head with other senior volunteers called Conveners also being responsible for other vital areas of activity such as the website plus sporting events for example our annual Celeb/Am golf and glitzy dinner and ball.

Our quarterly newspaper was my ‘baby' but everyone – staff and volunteers alike – were encouraged to write for it. ‘Scotland Connect' is I hope you'll agree a sparkling free sheet full of atmosphere and detail and has become essential reading for decision makers throughout Scotland thanks in large measure to the consummate skill of Fleet Street chum Ian Duff famed for his award-winning lay outs.

I have been a national newspaper reporter covering the big stories of the day, an editor, news editor, diarist, media director, businessman and TV executive before entering the immensely challenging but equally rewarding charity sector but I think I have been most proud of my five-strong team of talented part timers. I cannot speak to highly about the contribution they have made to our successes.

The sheer variety of experience – two days were never the same – few other jobs could match.

And Chief Constable Peter Wilson, Chair of the Crime Business Area for ACPOS, said "Stewart McCulloch's contribution to Crimestoppers in Scotland has been without parallel. Where he gets his energy from I have no idea, but Scotland's police forces have reaped tremendous benefit from the way in which Stewart has built up 0800 555 111 into a key component of crime-fighting across the country. He can take significant personal credit and satisfaction from the growth in performance statistics. We wish him every gratitude as he steps down from his role as Chairman, and wonder how we will find someone with the same stamina to follow in his footsteps. Well done faithful friend. My wife Janice and I at The Eagle Lodge farewell soiree

To Michelle, Tommy – the maestro with the mic – Sally, Stina and the lads and lassies at Crimestoppers' call centre and devoted colleagues I offer my gratitude for a job well done. And to my PA Amanda West – a girl in a million - thanks for putting up with my impatience and urgency for so long.

But I have the feeling, even though I am leaving, that I will be hearing from them, I hope so. My present deputy Captain Bill Wingate will take over until an election can be held. A special word of thanks afore I go to my friend and mentor Sir John Orr, a former Trustee who as Strathclyde's Chief Constable was instrumental in bringing Crimestoppers to Scotland.

"Stewart, your outstanding commitment coupled with inspired boundless energy has been the hallmark of your term as Chairman and you can take some considerable personal pride from your period of involvement with Crimestoppers"

- Sir John Orr OBE, QPM.

So now as I close the book on my work with Crimestoppers Scotland which I helped to build in to the astonishing Scottish call handling record breaker it is today another new chapter unfolds.

Bill - It's your call.