TV star Gordon visits CHAS

AWARD-WINNING wildlife cameraman and presenter Gordon Buchanan, from Mull, made a special visit to Robin House at Balloch, part of Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS) last week, to meet families and find out more about the charity’s vital work.

Raised on the Isle of Mull, Gordon has a reputation for relishing dangerous assignments, and his documentaries include Elephant Family and Me and Tribes, Predators and Me. And he has completed several guest presenter stints on BBC Two’s,

Springwatch, Autumnwatch and Winterwatch.

Gordon treated children and families at the hospice to a storytelling session, retelling his ‘hairy’ encounter with a polar bear in Arctic Norway, and led a grizzly bear hunt in the beautiful gardens at Robin House. Many of the children dressed for the occasion, painting their faces as bear cubs, and brought their teddies along to meet Gordon.

Gordon said: ‘It’s been a humbling experience learning about the important work that CHAS does in its hospices, and outwith the community in hospitals. It’s been a fantastic experience meeting the families, and sharing my stories with them, and I’m proud to support such an amazing charity.’

CHAS cares for families, their babies, children and young people by offering palliative care, family respite and support at its two hospices, Rachel House and Robin House. It has a CHAS at Home team, who bring its services into families’ homes throughout the whole of Scotland, as well as teams working in communities and hospitals across the country.