Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Volunteer Anne is pick of the bunch
Green- fingered gardening volunteer Anne Mallon received a surprise from staff and pupils at Plains Primary School.
The dedicated parent helper is this week’s deserving recipient of the Advertiser’s Say it With Flowers bouquet, in recognition of her help in developing the school’s community allotment.
She was nominated by principal teacher Gail Wilson and received the beautiful arrangement, provided by Elite Flowers in Airdrie, when she was surprised at a special whole-school assembly.
Anne has volunteered to help pupils with their outdoor learning at the local allotment every Friday afternoon for the past five years.
She first got involved in helping at the school when her children Emma and Lewis, now in P7 and P5 respectively, started there and is also involved with its parent council.
Teacher Gail told the Advertiser: “Anne has given up her own time to volunteer and has really supported the school and pupils to be involved in large-scale outdoor learning projects.
“The Friday afternoon sessions at the allotments are something we couldn’t do without extra help to give us the numbers we need to go out.
“Nothing has been too much trouble for her despite the cold, the rain and the messy activities, many of which couldn’t have gone ahead without her help.
“She’s seen lots of changes since she started. At that time we had just one square plot but now we have raised beds, our poly tunnel and we are developing an outdoor classroom.”
Anne was nominated to receive the flowers after a change to her work pattern meant she is unable to continue with the Friday gardening sessions
Gail added: “The school really misses Anne’s help and wanted to show our appreciation to her. She’s still helping the school when she can, doing things like play, craft activities and peer reading. Whatever we need her to do, she always helps with and does really well.
“Anne is also part of Plains Community Futures and is involved in their projects like the flower barrels and rock painting. “
Nominations have been flooding in as Advertiser readers share stories of their relatives, friends, colleagues and community champions who deserve the weekly floral treat, kindly provided by Mr Michael’s in Coatbridge and Elite Flowers in Airdrie.
Each week we feature one lucky recipient, telling their story and capturing on camera the moment when they are surprised with their beautiful bouquet.
To put someone forward send in your name, daytime phone number, address, the name of the person you want to nominate and why you think they deserve to receive the bouquet. Details can be emailed to news@airdrieandcoatbridgeadvertiser.co.uk or posted to Say It With Flowers competition, Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser, One Central Quay, Glasgow, G3 8DA.