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HMNB Clyde sailor helps local hospice
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18 December 2017
A Royal Navy Petty Officer at HM Naval Base Clyde has been helping to spread Christmas cheer by supporting a local Hospice.
Petty Officer Engineering Technician (Electrical) Paul McCann has been a volunteer for St Margaret of Scotland Hospice since 2015, giving his free time to help raise funds for the Clydebank-based charity.
Each festive season the organisation sends out its Christmas Bus to local communities, spreading some Yuletide excitement and raising money for the good cause.
The double-decker, decked out in Christmas lights and playing Christmas tunes, is a well-known sight in the area and one which for many heralds the start of Christmas.
People like Paul, who give up their free time to help with fundraising, are what keeps us going.
“During the day I serve at HM Naval Base Clyde, working as an electrician specialising on recompression chambers,” said Paul. “I was really happy to be able to use my electrical knowledge to help St Margaret’s wire up the Christmas lights on the bus.”
Paul has also spent his weekends out and about with the charity, wearing Christmas costumes and rattling the collection bucket.
“I first learned about the work of the Hospice from their website and was keen to help,” explained Paul. “It has been a great experience and one I would recommend to everyone.
“Sadly I will be leaving the Navy soon and moving away so won’t be able to volunteer for much longer. I have family in the area however, so I hope to be able to occasionally help when I’m visiting them.”
St Margaret of Scotland Hospice is the oldest and largest Hospice in Scotland, serving the population of Glasgow West and West Dunbartonshire since 1950.
The Hospice team deliver specialist palliative care to people and families living with both malignant and non-malignant illness from diagnosis to death in a variety of settings, home, care home and hospice.
The Hospice’s Claire Murphy said: “It takes around £40,000 a week to keep the Hospice operating so we really rely on the efforts for our volunteers to help with fundraising.
“People like Paul, who give up their free time to help with fundraising, are what keeps us going. They volunteer thousands of hours of support each year but we could always do with more help.”
The Christmas Bus will continue daily until Christmas Eve, visiting a variety of locations including Glasgow City Centre, Dumbarton and Clydebank Shopping Centres.
For information on how to volunteer email: [email protected] or phone 0141 952 1141. You can also find out more by visiting St Margret of Scotland Hospice’s website: www.smh.org.uk.