Real lives: The month that lasted 20 years for veteran helper Margaret

Published on Saturday 13 June 2009 11:20

A SHY pensioner has been commended for her volunteer care work at an Edinburgh hospice two decades after deciding to give it a go just "for a month".

Veteran volunteer Margaret Murray, who steadfastly withholds her age, has been honoured as a 20-year badge winner for volunteering at the Marie Curie Hospice.

She was born in Edinburgh and currently lives in Balerno, but has travelled to America and Japan with her husband.

She began her career as a medical secretary at the Royal Infirmary where she worked for three years, and later in cancer research at Chalmers Hospital on Lauriston Place.

With an interest in history, she also did private work in family research for General Register House.

She did her first volunteer work with the St Andrews Ambulance service for two years as an on-hand medical aid at Usher Hall in 1954. She later joined the Marie Curie hospice in 1989, where she has been a volunteer ever since.

She said: "I joined them when my aunt was ill. She got such wonderful attention that I felt like I should give something back.

"I started in day care and I thought I might do it for a month just to see what it was like and then one patient said to me, 'Margaret, will we see you next week?' and I said 'yes' and that was it."

She added: "One just does what you have to do at the time."

She originally worked in the day care department and now helps with the gardening, one of her favourite pastimes.

Her other hobbies and interests include walking, flowers and painting.

Her duties have included making arts and crafts, chatting and listening to patients and even shampooing hair when Princess Anne visited the hospice.

Her fondest memories from the hospice are hearing stories from the people of all walks of life whom she's met.

She said: "Meeting so many wonderful people helps you to cope with the world outside.

"It's just something I love doing; I love being there and being able to help in whatever way I can, in any small way, even if it's just talking to the patients."

She accepted her 20-year badge this month during Volunteers' Week.

She said: "I'm overwhelmed, it is a very nice gesture."

Asked whether she will continue volunteering at the hospice, she replied: "Oh yes, I just love it.

"I want to help in any way I can and I love being there and will be there as long as I can."