Meet the city’s festive heroes
WE MEET THE SPECIAL PEOPLE WHO GIVE UP THEIR FESTIVE DAY AT HOME TO BRING SEASONAL CHEER TO OTHERS
CHRISTMAS Day is for spending with loved ones.
But despite the importance of the big day, normal life has to carry on... which means workers around Glasgow leaving behind the festive warmth and heading out to ensure the city still runs.
One of those missing out on Christmas lunch is taxi driver George McIntosh.
But he’s no stranger to an alternative Christmas Day and says he feels like “Santa Claus”.
George has worked on Christmas Day for more than 20 years and admits reuniting families and friends on the big day still gives him a buzz.
He will be behind the wheel again on Monday as part of Glasgow Taxis’ 800-strong fleet and admits he’s looking forward to it.
He said: “I always work on Christmas Day and it’s great. You almost feel like Santa Claus when you’re out and about.
“The majority of the jobs we do on the day are taking people to Christmas parties.
“Sometimes that might be getting people from care homes and reuniting them with their families.
“Or it might be taking young kids and their parents to visit their grannies and grandpas and you can see how they excited they are.
“And there’s no better feeling than that.
“I’m quite happy being out and about on the day. If Glasgow Taxis weren’t working on Christmas Day it would make life a lot more difficult for people in wheelchairs or families taking prams as there’s no public transport available on the day.
“So, you almost have a duty to be there for them.
“It might take an extra 15 minutes or so for us to get to them as it’s a really busy day but we’ll always get people where they want to go.”
George hopes to catch up with his family and friends once his shift is over.
He added: “I’ll normally see them afterwards if I can.
“When I was younger we used to have a Christmas breakfast with my brothers and mum and dad and that was always a nice way to start the day before I’d go out on my shift.
“This year, though, I’ll be on from about 6.30 in the morning as some people will need to get out and about early on.
“But it’s always a great day to be in the taxi.” GENEROUS care worker Doreen Slattery is happily looking forward to working her tenth Christmas Day in a row – so her colleagues can spend time with their young families.
Doreen, from Renfrew, has been temping for Black&Black, the specialist Healthcare division of recruitment specialists Primestaff, for a decade now and has voluntarily worked on December 25 every year since.
She is one of the many agency workers that Black&Black will have out working on Christmas Day.
This Christmas she will put in a 12-hour shift in a sheltered housing complex in Govan but admits it warms her heart to see the reaction she gets from the residents when they sit down for their festive dinner together.
Doreen said: “This will be my 10th Christmas Day at work but I actually enjoy it.
“Some of the folk I work with have young kids so naturally they want to be off to spend time with their families.
“But mine is all grown up so it’s not as important for me.
“This year on Christmas Day I’m working from 9am to half past eight at night so it’s quite a long shift. I must be a glutton for punishment!
“But I know all the tenants now so it’s always lovely to see them on Christmas Day.
“We’ve got a chef that comes in so I’ll get my Christma dinner at work so that wi great.
“It’s always a nice festi atmosphere in the compl everyone’s really relaxed good spirits.
“And it’s nice for the re to have someone on that familiar with as I’ve been working there for a while
“That’s a lot better for than having a stranger lo after them.”
Doreen, from Renfrew catch up with her family her shift is over.
“She added: “My daug and her family stay down Leeds so they’ll come up on Christmas Day or Box Day so I’ll still get the cha spend time with them eit when I’ve finished my sh the next day.
“We’ll open all our pre then.”
MARY McCARTNEY is a home carer in Cordia’s first response team and will be working her second Christmas in the job this year.
She knows how vital her role is as, for some, Mary will be the only face people see on Christmas Day.
Working with service users in the east end of Glasgow, Mary supports those who have recently been discharged from hospital and need help getting back on their feet.
Previously a caterer in a nursery, she has been with the company for 27 years, becoming a home carer four years ago.
Mary is happy to work this Christmas and visit her service users, for some, Mary will be the only person they see on Christmas Day.
The 60-year-old will work her way around each visit in her area helping through a variety of care packages from providing food and personal care, to helping people get out of bed and around the house.
With limited staff numbers working over the holidays, Mary will also help cover the other home care departments, depending on the demand for help in each area.
Mary’s oldest son, Steven, who is 35, will spend Christmas with his future in-laws, while 30-year-old Ryan will be packing for his trip to Thailand the next day.
Working from 8am until 1pm and then again from 4pm until 8pm, she will have a three-hour break in between shifts to go home and have dinner with Ryan.
She plans to celebrate today, on her day off, giving her time to enjoy the festive season with her family before going back to work for Christmas.