Transport has been in the Mather family for years with other members working for the Sutherland Transport and Trading Company driving daily to and from Lairg. Iris�s mother had the local school contract runs. This started with the family car then a Bedford mini bus which Iris passed her PSV driving test. Iris took over that contract and has been the provider of school transport in Durness ever since. Iris developed this transport business in 1989 with contracts service buses running to Inverness and Thurso alternative weekends with local dial a bus taxi services. These services have subsidy support and the future is uncertain in their current form. Private hire has become a popular and much used service. She is a well known and often seen driver on the roads around North West Sutherland and knows all the pot holes and peculiarities of the roads thoroughly. The popular Cape Wrath mini bus excursion to Cape Wrath during the summer months has been a major development put on a regular footing by Iris. The occasional service was operated prior to 1982 but with legal directives being enforced then Iris was in a position to provide a regulated service. A comer was the first bus put to the Cape side following the requests to reach the far North West were being continually made to the local tourist office.

The logistical arrangements require a great deal of organisation. The task not made easier by the narrow and only basically maintained single track road for 11 miles to the Cape. Driving requires specific timing for vehicles meeting and passing on route coordinating with the passenger ferry ensuring people are not stranded and left waiting at the start and destination points. The road takes its toll on the vehicles. Iris has been involved in community activities all her life and has been a strong support for positive improvements with constant representation on the community council for many years.

 Iris recalls the Games in the early 1950s as a competitor also in the 70s when she won the egg and spoon race! Her name in the winners record for posterity! They were always referred to as Sports Day, a great event when everyone looked forward to the competitions. When I was child there was no where near the numbers that attend now. Quite a few changes in the Games have taken place over the years upgrading all the time. Safety has become a paramount issue and the regulations have tightened up. I remember when attending the Games as child during the putting the shot someone got the shot on the side of the head! People just used to mill around. Equipment now that was not available in the early years has made the health and safety better and added further interest. Marquees and sheds starting pistol platform, tanoy systems, and the many stall holders.

When the Games were restored in 1970 Iris was involved as part of the organising committee and she became chair person after Billy Morrison in 1992. She has taken on a lead role in coordination and has become synonymous with the games. This year 2010 Iris has stood down as chairperson and accepted the honour of Chieftain. When asked about who is usually invited to be Chieftain Iris responded by saying that this honour is usual bestowed on people with Durness connections who have made good or supported Durness and the Games in  some manner and usually just retired.

 This is a role Iris will delight in as she is a social and welcoming person. A recent illness has been responsible for Iris giving up a certain level of public service vehicle driving. She is wished a long, continuing happy role in her involvement in the Games and should she ever retire, which she was not making any commitment on, a lengthy and enjoyable healthy future.