‘I came into the cafe to get out of the rain.. now I work here’ Volunteer Margaret puts in the hours to ‘give something back’
Welcome to the latest instalment of the Our People series. This week MARK PIRIE talks to Margaret Ferry of East Kilbride’s Older and Active Cafe
Margaret Ferry walked into the Older and Active cafe to get out of bad weather – and hasn’t stopped going back.
The East Kilbride pensioner stumbled across the shopping centre-based cafe 18 months ago after being caught in a downpour and now works as a friendlyfaced volunteer waitress.
“I walked by and it was pouring with rain so I cut in to get cover and the staff started speaking to me,” she told the News.
“The next day I came in and started speaking to the same person again.
“Then on the third day it was just like a wee community – everyone knew me and started Keeping busy talking away to me.
“There are so many nice people and everyone is so friendly. The meals are great too!
“I thought it was just for people with a disability because I saw the mobility equipment outside but when I came in they said that it was for everybody.”
This chance encounter ensured a new routine in Margaret’s life.
“After about a month I came in every day and then after about a year I thought I would give something back,” she said.
“I thought they had been that nice to me – the staff, the bosses and the customers.
“That’s why I come in, you get such a good rapport with the customers. You have a really good laugh and a joke.
“Everybody comes in and they just get on that well. We do wee days for the customers to thank them for coming. We’re normally absolutely packed!”
After moving to East Kilbride in 1958, Margaret admits she found it hard to adjust but has dramatically changed her mind when it comes to what the town has to offer.
“I moved here as a teenager with my mum and dad and I hated it,” she said. “I came up here and there was nothing, but after a year-and-a-half I got used to it and started to love the town.”
Margaret works at least two days a week but is always willing to cover for her colleagues – though at 75 years old she admits “two days is enough normally!”
Before she retired at 66, she worked in a printing office and then as a filing clerkess but admits the busy cafe is a dramatic change of pace.
“It keeps you young and I can’t sing its praises high enough,” she adds.
Margaret is also doubling up as a PR for the cafe, getting the word out to her shopping centre pals.
“I tell everyone at the bus stop to come up and get a bowl of soup,” she revealed.
“I see quite a lot of people come in who I’ve recommended it to but now I think they are starting to duck at the bus stop!”