LONG-TERM RESIDENT PAT FACES UNCERTAIN FUTURE
THE sudden closure of the Royal Hotel took many by surprise, but none more-so than long-term resident Pat Simon.
For a year and a half the Royal has been her home - but now she has had to re-organise her life and find rented accommodation as she decides her future.
A native of Forfar, Pat returned to her home town after spending 47 years working in the banking industry in the United States.
She used to make three trips a year to visit her mother, Mrs Joan Adam, who was a resident of Finavon Court for 15 years and who sadly passed away three years ago.
During these visits she became a regular face at the Royal.
Pat said: "When I used to come to visit my mother the staff always took really good care of me.
"When I would sit and talk to my mother I would say I would come back to Forfar to stay one day - and her eyes would light up.
"Moving here after over 40 years living in the States was a big change for me.
"I didn't want to go into a house where I would be alone. This way I had the staff in the hotel and people coming in and out.
"It has been very cheerful. The staff are the friendliest and they always take very good care of me."
Pat has strong family roots in Forfar. Her mother's own name was Forsyth, her father and mother were born in Forfar and her mother's cousins were the Ramsays of Ramsay Ladders.
She continued: "My real roots are in Forfar.
"I'm very sad the Royal is closing. Everybody is devastated.
"There are over 20 rooms here - where are all the business people going to stay?
"This week we've had the people from Alworths here, and there are other people working on contracts who stay at the Royal."
When she heard the news the Royal was closing, Pat booked tickets to return to the States in August and has rented a property for the next few weeks.
As for her long-term plans, she may lease a property on her return for six months before deciding whether to return back to her home in Michigan permanently.
Speaking of her sadness over the closure of the hotel, Pat added it had become a "perfect home".
"There was always somebody coming in or out - the Rotary Club, Inner Wheel, Probus Club, the exercise class - there was always people.
"Hopefully somebody will take it over again. It is such a big part of the town and has been here since around 1692."
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Weather for Kirriemuir
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 3 C to 7 C
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