Friends and colleagues from across the university gathered to wish Elaine well at her leaving party in the Edinburgh Campus library.

Elaine joined HWU in February 1978 where she was based at the Computer Centre, 37 Grassmarket, Edinburgh, next to the former Mountbatten Building (now the Apex Hotel).

Elaine’s first post was Job Reception and Dispatch Assistant in the computer centre (which was then part of the Department of Computer Science)  where she processed programs submitted by students and staff. The University’s mainframe computer was a state of the art Burroughs 5700!

By the end of 1979 the computer centre staff were separated from the Department of Computer Science and became the university Computer Centre with Allen McTernan as the first Director.

In 1981 Elaine took on the role of Computer Operator.

In late 1982 the Computer Centre staff and equipment moved to Riccarton into a new building now known as the Allen McTernan Building. David Rundell had become director and the service became Computing Services.

Elaine’s role continued to develop and in 1997, as a HelpDesk Officer, she established the Helpdesk service with ex-colleague George Cormack. In 2008 she became an IT HelpDesk Specialist.

In 2011 the IT and Library services were integrated into the Information Services Directorate with Mike Roch as the director.

The IT Helpdesk, as part of Academic and Learner Services, became part of the ‘forward facing’ services of the former IT and Library areas with Elaine providing specialist IT support for the changing service.

Most recently in 2016 Elaine became a Customer  Services Supervisor and has assisted with the relocation of the service into the Library building. She has actively participated in discussions about service improvements for the future.

Elaine has been an integral part of the IT Helpdesk service and has provided expert help on new systems and applications for many thousands of students and staff not only at the Edinburgh Campus but at the other HWU campuses.

More than thirty eight years’ service is a remarkable achievement, and we wish Elaine well in all she chooses to do in the future.