7; days in the life of ...

Michael Payne, who spoke out last week after Perth and Kinross Council decided parents of children at Moncrieff Primary School couldn't photograph the school nativity play Monday Start of a normal week. Our children - Ben (eight), Daniel (six) and Bethany (three) - had parties coming up and Ben was excited about his birthday on Friday. Daniel had been rehearsing for the school's nativity play and I was looking forward to Wednesday's performance as for once, my shift pattern (I'm a telecom engineer) allowed me to attend.

Tuesday I came home around 4pm to find Daniel had brought a letter home saying the school had been informed by the education service that, because of the data protection act, parents couldn't take photographs or video the nativity. I couldn't believe it - it seemed so unjustified. We've often videoed the event in the past; we have a housebound friend, and lots of grandpaprents can't get there. So I rang the education service, but was told the relevant person wasn't available till next day, which would be too late, so I e-mailed our local paper.

Wednesday At 9.45am we watched the performance, which was wonderful. The kids did really well, including Daniel, who had a walk- on part as one of Old King Cole's "fiddlers three" (it was a very innovative nativity!). Like many other parents, I took some photographs, and nothing was said about this either before, after or during the performance. But while we were having coffee afterwards, we heard that a Daily Record reporter and photographer were outside (I think another parent had informed them) and some of us answered questions on our way out. Later, my wife tried phoning the education service but got no response. Then while I was out on a job in Dundee, someone called from the Press Association and asked if I'd do an interview, which I did.

Thursday I worked all last night until 3am. This morning, the Daily Record and Courier And Advertiser had the story, although we didn't feature in them. I went to work around 12 noon. By late evening I was really shattered, but at 11.15pm, while my wife Miriam and I were laying out presents for Ben's birthday, a Times reporter called asking for an interview. I was tired, not on my best form. The reporter said fears had been expressed that the pictures could fall into the hands of paedophiles. I knew nothing about this; we'd just been concerned about parents not being able to photograph their children's achievements. I was worried that I might not have handled it very well and slept badly.

Friday Ben's birthday. The Times story was okay. At 7.10, I got a call from Radio 4 asking if I'd do an interview for the Today programme. I was quite uptight about it - it's a big programme, so I was sitting upstairs preparing what to say while the rest of the family were downstairs with Ben, opening his presents. At 8.25, I was doing the interview live, over the phone. My throat was so tight - I was worried about whether I was saying the right things. Fortunately, I'd taken the day off for Ben's birthday - but as it happens, it was taken over by press stuff. I did loads of interviews including the Sun, Radio Scotland, Radio 5 Live and Reporting Scotland came to film the family. The children were excited, but I do feel guilty that Ben had the limelight taken from his birthday. At 4pm, his friends arrived for his party: a cinema trip to 102 Dalmations, followed by McDonald's. Miriam has taken all this in her stride - taking press calls, dealing with photographers and so on. But I must admit all this interest is new to me. I'm not a publicity minded guy, so it's really knocked me for six.

Saturday/Sunday We're staying overnight at New Lanark for a work's dinner dance, so the children's grandparents are babysitting. Unfortunately, things were so hectic on Friday, I forgot to hire a kilt and had to come in my old suit, but it's great to get away after such a crazy week. How do I feel about it all now? I don't regret highlighting the issue - I feel passionately that somebody had to do something, before other schools were affected by the same thing. Some photographs of the nativity have now appeared in the press, and if the issue is that some parents don't want their children's pictures in the papers, that's regrettable. I believe, however, that the education service's action does nothing to promote good school- parent relationships.

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