Festival People
Kathryn Morrison
The 'Next In Line' is a bit of a theme for Kathryn Morrison. It's the name of a band in the Western Isles which she likes to go and listen to; it's also a phrase which reflects a little of the job she does for the festival.
Born and bred locally, Kathryn is 18 and has just begun a two-year course in Childcare at Glasgow Nautical College. It seems an apt career step as it follows on from two years working with children during the festival week.
Line after line of kids form to get the help of Kathryn who delivers a vast array of face paint images, transforming the children and providing them with lots of fun.
Said Kathryn: "Last year I spent time making masks and looking after kids but this year it was mostly face-painting. The kids' events were for three days. It's good but I wish they could go on longer as they only last for two hours."
Even so, the number of juniors Kathryn looks after can get to a serious size. "We do loads of kids. You look after two at a time. And it's mostly one-to-one as they keep coming back to you.
"The job can take a while. Some kids ask for really complicated designs. One of the other girls who was helping out took 30 minutes for one design when normally it takes15-20. The pleasing thing is we never get complaints; the kids love it no matter what.
"Helping at the festival is great. The thing I most enjoy is being with the kids, meeting all the different personalities. It's interesting. They come from all over. A lot of English folk come up for the festival and you do get some foreigners; it's fun hearing all the different nationalities."
With so much to do and only two hours to cram it all in, does it all get a bit much sometimes?
"No. I always really enjoy what I do and it's never a drag. You are given responsibility and you're treated like an adult. The face-painting is not hard to do. I've done art at school but I guess anyone can do it because you get instructions."
Away from working at the festival and preparing for a career in childcare, it's perhaps not surprising to know that Kathryn gets great pleasure from music.
Talking the morning after attending a gig by 'The Next In Line', said Kathryn: "My voice is a bit croakey after listening to the band last night. They're great. But I'm biased because I'm really good friends with them.
"I like listening to music to relax. CDs? I'll give anything a play. I like rock, punk rock and other music. I'm listening to a lot of Led Zeppelin and Mogwai at the moment.
"I'm really into my music and I don't really do much else for hobbies. I used to work for Croft Recording, pressing cds and I also worked in the Fonn Music Shop.
"However, I'm totally dedicated to going into childcare. I really love working with kids; I like to be serious about it but I also like fun."
Going to Glasgow for her childcare course does not mean that Kathryn is lost to the festival or the Western Isles. Speaking from home she explained: "After my course I'd love to come up here to work but I'd love to travel first. I've been to America so probably Australia and New Zealand would be my choices of destination.
"Whatever happens, I'm definitely going to come back up for festivals. I really like the way so many people come to the festival and that so many people get into it. Everyone on the island gets into it. It's like they all get a happy disease."
Kathryn, like all the other volunteers behind the scenes at the festival, plays a huge part in making sure that kids and parents catch the happiness bug.
