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Carol Kirkwood - TV Weather Presenter
Carol is a popular weather forecaster for the BBC. She was born in Morar, Inverness-shire, and was a Brownie."I highly admire Mother Teresa - to have been that selfless throughout life is truly a gift."
My Mother. She raised eight children whilst also working alongside my Father in running their Hotel in the Highlands. As if that wasn't enough, she also ran the house. I have no idea how she managed to juggle so much successfully without becoming highly stressed!!! She proves that woman are good at multi tasking!!!
I love coming home to any part of Scotland, but my favourite is where I spent my childhood, namely Morar, in the West Highlands.
Summers here are beautful. The beaches have very fine sand which twinkle in the sun - hence the name, 'silver sands of Morar'. There are sand dunes, beautiful scenery and so much clean fresh air. Morar also boasts the deepest fresh water Loch in Europe......lovely to walk alongside. It is so tranquil and unspoilt. When the weather is good in the summer, there is no place like it.
In stark contrast, when it snows in the winter (which is doesn't a lot) it takes on a whole different look. Again the scenery is beautiful. If you can picture a Christmas card, with snow resting on the branch of a tree, with the sun beaming down in the background, that is just what it looks like. I think it is time for me to pay another visit!!!
I studied in Edinburgh, obtaining a degree in Commerce,
before joining the BBC as a Secretary. Various internal
moves lead me eventually to presenting radio slots on
BBC Radio Scotland, R2 and R4.
I then left the BBC to
follow my husband's career, obtaining a different job
in each different city we relocated too. This was fun
as it gave me the opportunity to try my hand at Recruitment,
Office Management, Marketing and Training. I then rejoined
the BBC as a Presenter. The Weather Channel decided
to set up an operation in the UK.
I applied for a job
with them and got it. I stayed with TWC until they closed
down, and then returned to the BBC as a Weather Presenter,
initially on News24.
Now you can catch me on Breakfast, News24, 6 O'Clock
News, Interactive, BFBS, World Service and Radio's 2
and 4 to name but a few. I have also taken part in Departure Lounge (like Holiday) for the BBC, and was a Reporter
on Castle in the Country when it looked at Glamis -
all BBC programmes. I am about to record Ready Steady Cook. This is scary as I am hopeless as a cook - although
I do try!!!
The most memorable weather forecast I have presented was earlier this year on the Glenshane Pass in Northern Ireland for BREAKFAST. It was literally in a blizzard.
It had been well forecast, so I knew what to expect......or so I thought!!! The driving snow was hitting my face rather like pins.....the bitter cold made my lips freeze....and the wind whipped my hair up into a cornet shape (rather like Marge Simpson!!!).....but it was exhilirating!! What a challenge!!!
My good friend, Bill Turnbull, one of the News Presenters, was giving me lip all morning about what a woose I was.....our viewers were not happy with that comment at all and were telling him he should try it and to bring me in.
To be honest, if I had felt that I wanted to stop broadcasting from outside, the BBC would have had no problem with that at all. Their primary concern was my health and safety. But I have to say I LOVED IT!!!! Weather is my trade!!!!
I beat off stiff competition from all channels in the UK to win WEATHER PRESENTER OF THE YEAR.
This summer, I went Tornado Chasing with the film crew
from Departure Lounge.
We literally crossed the USA
from South to North, and saw a tornado - not to mention
some spectacular weather...golf ball sized hail, incredible
thunder and lightening, etc. Now I would love to experience
a hurricane. This season already, we have had a record
breaking amount.
The power of nature is immense and it is only when you see the impact a hurricane has on mankind, that you realise how vulnerable we are against it. Mother Nature really can pack a punch when she wants too.
How important it is to be polite, kind and courteous.
I was a member of the Ghillie-Dhu's (pronounced Gill
- ee - doos!!!) in the Brownies. We used to meet in
the local village hall once a week after school.
Morar
was just a wee hamlet then, so it was just like playing
and having fun with all my friends. Our Brown Owl was
my friend's Mum! I loved the games and competitions
we used to have. (I wasn't so keen on the run round
the hall we had to do before we did anything else.....I
think it put me off exercise from life!!!! )
I especially
loved when it involved making something. We did pottery
one time which was such a hoot!! I made a mug with a
huge yellow flower on it. Sadly, the last time my husband
and I moved house, I broke it. I must say I felt very
sad as it held a lot of sentimental value for me of
my happy childhood.
Grace Kelly. She had such beauty, elegance and style. When you read about
her life, she really did start at the bottom and work her way up through the
ranks in Hollywood, finally marrying her Prince. It is the kind of dream you
may have as a young girl, but very few make it a reality.
I would have loved to have experienced her time as
a famous actress! Imagine the glamour and the fun and
all the handsome actors she had to work with? She was
so naturally beautiful and graceful, anything she put
on - from her twinsets to her ballgowns - looked stunning.
Even the hard work she undoubtedly encountered, sounds
appealing. I know what it is like to have to learn lines
then to see them come alive on film - how rewarding
must that have been!!! Then the excitement of meeting
and marrying Prince Ranier.
Another woman I highly admire was Mother Teresa. To
have been that selfless throughout life is truly a gift.
If I could win a million pounds I would donate it to the Macmillan Nurses. A few of my friends have died of cancer in recent years and these Nurses are worth so much more than their weight in gold.
I will never forget the kindess and consideration they showed to my friends. The hours they sat listening and comforting them. Those Nurses are very special people.
To find out more about Carole please see BBC Weather
