Janey Godley: Here are your pillars of society, the unpaid, unsung volunteers

Published on Sunday 7 December 2008 18:30

LAST week I attended a community awards ceremony in Drumchapel. There were many dignitaries there, including politicians, high-ranking police officers and our own Glasgow Lord Provost.

It made me think about a comment from my column last week, when I debated the "pillars of society" and how professional people such as lawyers, doctors and police officers seem to be elevated to the dizzy heights of community adoration by their job alone. Watching the ordinary folks from Drumchapel, Whiteinch and surrounding areas receive their community awards reinforced my opinion that you have to earn your right to be a pillar of any society.

In London and Edinburgh, MPs pass laws, decide on mandates, bitch and fight with each other, then slope off to their cosy flat in the city, without too much stress. Meanwhile, in some housing schemes, there are Glaswegians who go from their place of employment to a late shift in a community centre to go that extra mile for their local children. On winter nights across the city, there are heaps of folk getting out dance mats, dragging out painting sets and putting on a big pot of tea for the people who all need a hot drink and some company.

The very laws that MPs pass directly affect the purse strings, social care and housing system of these people yet, despite any cash problems, these neighbourhood helpers carry on regardless.

There are: wee women who, for more than 20 years, have provided dance clubs, craft nights and hot soup for the children in their area; a bloke who taught himself three different languages so he could help immigrants; a janitor who organises a kids' scheme; and teenagers who help each other with a drama society; neighbours who take courses in counselling to help suicidal people in their own community; ladies who raise cash to get the children of addicts a holiday every year; a bunch of wee Glasgow mammies who relentlessly do charity nights to provide a place for the local school pupils to hang out.

And they all do this for no remuneration. All are volunteers. I can't imagine any MP who would do that year in year out, can you?

When I sat back and watched these selfless people chatter among themselves, they applauded loudly for every single person nominated. I asked one woman, Lizzie, who had worked countless years for the children in her community, why she felt the need to give up all her free time. She simply replied: "Because we should."

To me, that is a pillar of society right there and I have more respect for Lizzie and her community of volunteers than I do for any lawyer, doctor or MP.

Gies back oor clootie dumpling!

CHRISTMAS markets have been appearing in most major UK cities. I had a wander round the one at Argyle Street in Glasgow.

It made me feel all festive and warm, then I noticed that it's just wooden huts in the style of some Hans Christian Andersen gingerbread house, decorated with some fairy lights, selling woolly handbags, hippy tat, glass ornaments, silver jewellery and some fake decorative snow.

There are the obligatory sizzling German sausages and Hungarian goulash food cabins, but when did Eastern European cuisine become the signature dish of Christmas?

Where are the stalls that sell good old warm Scottish clootie dumpling or seasonal cards or something that relates to Christmas in itself? I can buy cheap jumpers, Hannah Montana posters and Lycra leggings anywhere in our busy shopping centre.

A few twinkly lights, a synthetic Santa hat and loud music do not a Christmas market make!

&#149 MY FIVE-YEAR-OLD great-niece Abi told me she is getting a real live pony from Santa this year. "Really?" I gasped and wondered if her mum was aware of this news. "Where will you keep it?"

"In my bed, of course!" she guffawed at my obvious stupidity. "You know, you might not get a pony – they are really expensive," I explained.

"I know that," she said. "But, if I tell everyone I expect a pony, mum will get me another rabbit to make up for it and that's what I really want." Abi has a future in politics, I suspect.

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