University challenge to Trump chief's CV

Published on Saturday 30 May 2009 19:48

IT IS the strange case of the world famous tycoon, his new Scottish apprentice, golf greens and red faces.

Last week Sarah Malone was unveiled as the high-profile figurehead for Donald Trump's 1 billion golf resort on the Aberdeenshire coast.

As she told of her working class roots in Buchan the presumption was that degrees from Cambridge and Glasgow meant that the girl had done well to reach such ancient seats of learning.

But now, after being questioned by Scotland on Sunday, the 34-year-old has issued a clarification, confirming she actually attended Anglia Ruskin University, which is in the town of Cambridge, and Glasgow School of Art.

Malone insists her suggestion that she received degrees at Cambridge and Glasgow was "not technically inaccurate" but had been misinterpreted by others.

It is understood the former Peterhead Academy pupil stated she earned qualifications "at Cambridge" as well as Glasgow, without further explanation.

But the new executive vice-president of Trump International Golf Links Scotland was keen to set the record straight.

When asked about her former seats of learning the Aberdeen resident said: "It was reported that I was a graduate of both Cambridge and Glasgow universities. I think that is probably not technically inaccurate.

"If you read it at a glance you would perhaps assume it was Glasgow and Cambridge Universities, upper case, but I studied at Glasgow and Cambridge universities with a lower case."

After graduating with an Honours degree in Fine Art in Scotland's biggest city, Malone gained a postgraduate diploma at Anglia Ruskin, a former polytechnic which gained university status in 1992.

The new Trump recruit said her education stood her in good stead for her latest challenge.

She said: "It was fantastic training. I am a creative person and this is a visionary project."

The ambitious proposals for the Menie Estate to the north of Aberdeen have divided opinion, with some hailing them as a lucrative boon while others insist they will threaten the area's historic dunes.

But Malone shrugged off criticism of the plans and insisted they would have an "immeasurable" impact on the economy of the North-east.

She said: "There are always going to be detractors. But I am an Aberdeenshire woman and I know the local people want this project. We need to invest in the future and in job creation and to create diversity in the economy.

Since her appointment, opponents of the scheme have referred to her as a high-profile "token Scot" in a firm dominated by Americans.

But Malone insisted:

"That is not the common view and I am certainly not the token Scot."

The self-proclaimed "Buchan quine" will leave her post as director of the Gordon Highlanders Museum in Aberdeen in August to tee off her new career.

During her time at the award-winning visitor attraction Malone gained a reputation as an impressive operator.

Her growing cachet led to her being selected as the public face of a campaign aimed at encouraging people to visit and do business in the Grampian area.

Her appointment was marked last week when she was welcomed by Donald Trump Jnr, who jetted into Scotland to make his first official visit to the site.