Bob is a king of clubs
Friendly face tells locals to get involved
Bob Sawers moved to East Kilbride in 1972 – and he’s been on the go in the community ever since.
The St Leonards man has been involved in countless clubs across the town since he moved from Possilpark.
Three years after moving to the town his daughters decided they wanted to learn to swim so they were taken to the Dollan Baths.
He was up with the other dads – or as he dubs them “the drivers” – minding his own business when his neighbour Peter Rice, who was one of the coaches, asked Bob to come down and help for a couple of weeks.
Peter then decided to leave and Bob was in charge of 60 kids, starting a decade-long involvement in that Friday night class.
“You get drawn in because you want to keep things going,” he said.
“I thought it was a great challenge though.
“I divided the kids up into seven groups – and then went back up to the balcony and asked for volunteers.
“We trained the dads up and they worked with the kids from not knowing how to swim all the way up to the swimming club.
“I’m a great one for the belief that achieving things gives you. When you got the 10-metre badge that starts it and after that I couldn’t buy enough badges!
“Children were encouraged by the progress. “You have to make it fun, though.” And he still has people who he taught to swim recognising him around the town.
Bob added: “I might be out washing my car and I’ll see a big guy and he’ll say hello.
“I’ll have taught them to swim and they’re all grown up now.
“East Kilbride is a great place for that kind of thing.
“I always say East Kilbride is the biggest village in Scotland – it has that kind of identity.”
One of Bob’s main passions is gardening and as a former show convener for the local horticultural society he has had plenty of practice.
He specialised in begonias and enjoyed some success at top flower shows across the country, even appearing on TV for his efforts in his own beautiful garden.
“I was fanatical about gardening a few years ago,” he said.
“It was real challenge and great fun. You don’t just want the flowers and plants big but you want them good.
“You start swapping and building your stock, and then you are nearly constantly in your garden.
“You have to know which one is going to which show and then count back! You always want it perfect on the day.
“That was the peak days, but folk just buy stuff now out of B&Q. It’s not the same as it used to be.”
He has always enjoyed looking at smaller gardens, adding: “You don’t want big estates, they’re rubbish!
“You want to see what the wee guy down the road is doing and see what you can do.”
Nowadays Bob is more focused on rambling.
As a founding member of Duncanrig Ramblers he has also had a hand in starting up the midweek walking group in the town and still takes on treks with the St Leonards group.
However, when he started he had no idea what to do – until a fellow rambler and scout master showed him how to use a compass at the top of Ben Lomond.
“I was the route convener for the Duncanrig Ramblers and I didn’t own a pair of boots,” he said with a smile.
“Things start with enthusiasm. You have got to grow things.
“Duncanrig grew from a small acorn to an oak tree.
“I’ve founded the big one and I can look back and say I laid the foundation right. “They are stronger than ever. “I still walk with St Leonards twice a month and I’m involved in the midweek walking group.
“When I started I said if you get me involved I’ll end up running the show.
“But it was good to be able to help them sort out buses and get them started.”
Bob isn’t just using his two feet for walking, though. Since 2007 he has been involved with wife Myra at the Scottish Country Dance group at the Red Deer Centre.
He added: “Scottish Country dancing is rife in East Kilbride.
“People say there is nothing to do in East Kilbride. No – get out there and get involved.”