In tune with Strathaven
Welcome to the latest instalment of the East Kilbride News series Our People. This week Mark Pirie speaks to Strathaven community champion Paulo Quadros.
It has been a long road to Strathaven for Paulo Quadros.
Having been born in Brazil, Paulo is now one of the most recognisable community champions in the town.
Paulo is a South Lanarkshire Council community service award winner, thanks to his work with the green group Friends of Strathaven Park and the historical organisation The John Hastie Museum Trust.
He also volunteers at the Scout and Guide Centre and is one of the key contributors to the popular Strathaven community Facebook page.
It all started for Paulo with his saxophone.
Having grown up playing music in South America, he was invited to be part of the orchestra in the musical ‘Hair’ in Africa.
The same show led him around Europe and then to the heart of Scotland.
“I had a contract with the producer in Brazil and he decided to bring us over,” Paulo said.
“He auditioned us and we got in and toured as the ‘Hair’ band.
“The same company took me to Portugal and that’s how I came to Europe.
“I lived in Lisbon, then Madrid and Barcelona.
“I was going out with a girl from the musical and then the musical run ended.
“We went back and got married in Brazil but she didn’t like Brazil and she wanted to come home.
“Home for her was Glasgow. I had never heard of Glasgow before but I have been here since.”
Before moving to the countryside and finding his home in Strathaven, Paulo got a degree from Glasgow University.
Throughout his education he was having recurring problems with his shoulder.
This led to a completely different career path, with music taking a back seat as he now specialises in pain relief and mental health recovery.
“My shoulder was out of place when I was in Brazil,” he said.
“I had problems for years and I went to the GPs here and I told them I couldn’t even scratch my back.
“What they said to me was not to scratch my back, which doesn’t help.
“I was recommended some alternative medicine by a friend so went to visit a clinic in Dennistoun.
“I walked in and straight away he told me my shoulder was out.
“He fixed it after a few sessions of acupuncture and massages.
“I wanted to know what they were doing to me so there was a beginners’ massaging class and I decided to do it.
“I was so good at it I decided to do the professional course and as soon as I finished I was invited to join the clinic.
“Then I had to give up music because I was so busy.”
Paulo did not pick up the saxophone for nearly 10 years but has now found a way to link his two passions.
He has seen how much music can benefit people from his work with the community jazz band.
The musicians would go into nursing homes to help people with dementia and now Paulo hopes to begin a musical charity that can do the same things.
He wants to be able to form a committee and launch in the near future.
“We would see people getting up and dancing and chatting like there was nothing wrong with them,” he said.
“We are now looking to set up a charity to help these people.
“People are beginning to see the benefits more and more. I saw on the news people going into hospitals to teach the clarinet.
“We would do improvisation and lend instruments to people who can’t afford to pay for them.
“As soon as we have charitable status we will be able to start our first workshops.”
We got married in Brazil but she wanted to come home...