WORLD’s MOST POINTLESS CONTEST ; And the Pounds 100 Winning Entry of the Competition to Name the FortWilliam Health Centre Is.. Err, Fort William Health Centre

By NORMAN SILVESTER

DOCTORS made a mountain from a molehill by running a contest to name their health centre near Ben Nevis…then gave it the snappy title Fort William Health Centre.

The GPs rejected hundreds of entries from locals with names such as Ben Nevis Medical Centre, Peak Practices, Foothills Surgeries and Care Mher to plump for the dull name.

An embarrassed Dr Chris Robinson said: “The name may sound disappointing to some, particularly those who put so much thought and imagination into their suggestions.

“But the overwhelming view was the name must describe the centre and its function as clearly as possible and we found there was no alternative to Fort William Health Centre.” The doctors even gave the pounds 100 first prize to Murdie Mackay, 55, ofnearby Caol, for being “closest” to the choice. He suggested they call it Fort William Medical Complex.

Murdie said: “It seems daft to spend all this time and money to organise a competition then not use the winning name.”

A female patient added: “If they wanted to call it Fort William Health Centre, why have the competition?”

The pounds 7million surgery sits near the foot of Ben Nevis and has more than 15,000 patients.

(c) 2007 Sunday Mail; Glasgow (UK). Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.