Humbled by award
Nominated by Comrie residents for her vital work
She lives and breathes Comrie, ensuring that our enviable community spirit never dies
A kind-hearted Comrie woman was delighted to receive a UK Community Network Community Hero accolade recently.
Gillian Brock was nominated for the award, which is backed by the National Lottery Community Fund, by Shaky Village residents.
Gillian was among only a handful of Scottish recipients honoured at the UKwide ceremony, which took place online last month.
She was nominated for going above and beyond in her job as a mobile hairdresser and also in her role on Comrie Community Council.
Gill told the Herald: “The first I knew about this award was when I received an email saying I had been nominated by residents of Comrie.
“Initially I was unsure what it was about. I then discovered several villagers had nominated me for this award.
“I still can’t quite believe I won this award and feel very humbled that throughout the whole of UK that I was one of the winners.
“Even throughout my school years I have been passionate about fundraising for the less fortunate, and it has always been my mission to help anyone in need.
“I moved to Comrie 26 years ago, and love where I live, so I feel very privileged to be able to contribute to making Comrie the special place it is.”
The village’s Sandra McRitchie, who runs the community’s Facebook page and sees the amount of work Gill does in the background as well as publicly, attended the online ceremony, which she described as a heartwarming event.
She said: “Gill does so much more for people in the village that is unseen.
“Gill cares for her hairdressing clients doing more for them than just hair – she organises cakes for birthdays, does their shopping, drives them to hospital and GP appointments.
“She has re-homed the pets of clients who have gone into care, cooked meals for clients – and not just because of Covid – and much, much more besides.
“She instigated the introduction of Cycling Without Age culminating in a trishaw for volunteers to take older and infirm residents out and about.
“Gill is also known locally as the ‘roads lady’, who through years of her community council contribution to the village, has developed wonderful relationships with the local council roads department ensuring where possible that road works are completed as required in a friendly manner.
“She has never been afraid to take on community issues or work to resolve them.
“She lives and breathes Comrie, ensuring that our enviable community spirit never dies.”
A spokesperson for the UK Community Network said: “We all know people who helped the vulnerable during the pandemic and others who have been doing a lot for their community over the years whether it is picking up litter on their local beach, fundraising for a charity or feeding the homeless.
“Thank you for nominating your Community Heroes and telling the whole world about them to recognise their efforts and inspire others.”