While most people were preparing to welcome Santa, West Highland Museum in Fort William had its own special festive visitor – number 60,000.
Carole Abel from Merseyside didn’t need to come down the chimney to enter the museum in Cameron Square, but was taken by surprise when she was greeted by a round of applause and handshakes as she crossed the threshold.
Mrs Abel, 75, who was on a Christmas bus tour on Monday and staying at a nearby hotel told the assembly that she was absolutely amazed as nothing like this had ever happened to her before .
She said: “This has taken me completely by surprise, but I am absolutely delighted at being such a welcome guest. I have been to Fort William before on bus tours, but this is my first visit to the museum – and I will come again.”
West Highland Museum manager, Colleen Barker said: “We have been anxiously counting our visitors all week, wondering when we might reach the target and I am so pleased that Mrs Abel was the lucky person.”
Visitor numbers have been rising steadily at the museum every year, but 2019 saw the footfall increase by a jump of almost 4,000, from the 56,111 recorded last year, many from all parts of the world.
The museum is noted for its extensive Jacobite display.