A Scottish chef whose career was held back by a bad stammer has solved the problem and is urging others to do the same.

Tim Niven, from East Kilbride, worked in Glasgow's One Devonshire Gardens and Rogano's restaurant before teaching dessert-making at a Swiss hotel school and working in Bermuda restaurant Lacoquille.

He enjoyed his work but found that his stammer turned him into an introvert. He avoided certain words or situations such as answering the phone or asking questions.

The long hours and yelling endemic to kitchens did not help, and he described interviews as "horrendous".

He returned to the UK last year to try the McGuire Programme, a speech fluency technique based on the breathing methods used by opera singers.

After three short intensive courses and attending a support group, he said: "The real me is coming through. I am not held back, I am more open verbally and more positive."

Now, he said, he can ring restaurants and arrange to meet the owners to swap recipes and ideas, whereas before he limited himself to yes or no responses.

For the moment Niven has taken less demanding, nine-to-five jobs in Bristol, which has a McGuire support group, instructing catering staff at Bristol University and working at a sauce manufacturing company.

But he said he missed the creativity of kitchen work and believed he would return to his first love and may move back to Glasgow next year.

The McGuire Programme can be contacted on 01275 540737.

by Angela Frewin