Meet Our Volunteers: Mary!

Mary is one of our more life experienced volunteers…she just celebrated her 80th birthday! She loves nothing more than to cause a little mischief from time to time, keeping us on our toes.

Quite a few of our projects and campaigns have either been an idea of Maryʼs or inspired by her and we are forever grateful for her involvement and acerbic wit!

 Steven: When did you first get involved with Clydesider? 

 Mary: I was thinking about this one and I have no clue. I know Amanda ran a course in Dalmuir in the Golden Friendship Club and I went along, the main reason was journalism, it was something that I'd never touched upon.

So, it was new. But I can't remember when. The first issue I was in, I imagine it too long after because I thought this was worthwhile and I wanted to support something local. And I thought well, she was trying to do something good. And if it works, it'll work, if it doesn't, it won't. And it's grown a lot of legs like the centipede. You must all be very tired from having all these legs.

 Amanda: Why have you stayed involved?

Mary: I still think it's worthwhile and as my mother would say, ʻit keeps me off the street and out the pub.ʼ Which I never understood until I was much older. No, you know I love writing reviews and I like supporting local authors very much. Most of the books I do for the Clydesider are local. And it also gives me a chance to put local books on a Glasgow website. [A friend of Maryʼs runs Patʼs Guide to the West End so she shares a lot of her reviews with her]. And I meet some really interesting people, of course. People that perhaps I would never have met.

Harvey: What do you do at Clydesider?

Mary: Not a lot lately. I mostly write reviews but I'll do anything that Amanda asks, you know, if I can help out. I believe she's got a folder named ʻMary's Folderʼ I think. And she admitted to occasionally dipping into it, and that's great because writers write so much that is never seen or heard. You might write it for a particular occasion and then it dies the death. I'm quite happy to write and share whatever with Clydesider.

Sarah: What do you enjoy the most about Clydesider?

Mary: I think it gives a voice to the people who wouldn't normally have one. And the people on the team are very good at supporting people. Especially often people who would not have a voice. It's fully inclusive. I know the buzzwords.

Patricia: What is your favourite thing that you have done for the Clydesider?

Mary: I think making people aware of the talent that is local, you know the writing. That you don't need to bring in people from Glasgow to talk and give lessons and workshops. That talent in writing both poetry and prose is actually here locally in West Dunbartonshire. And I think it's a bit unfair they are not given enough credence. The Clydesider, with the reviews, it allows them to spread their word, their work. I'm happy to do it because I think it's beneficial for them.

Billy: Do you have any funny stories about Clydesider?

Mary: None that I can repeat (Jenny: that's what we said you would say). Oh there was a time I wrote something under a nom de plume, which was actually my father's name, George Edward, but I called it Georgia. And I decided to write a review of a novel. And I decided to write a review of a novel. And I thought well, Amanda will know very well it's me because she knew the pseudonym. But it was fun to do it knowing that it would be accepted as fun and not seriously, you know.

John: Do you have a favourite article in the magazine outwith your own work?

Mary: I don't think there's one particular one because there are so many groups that I read about that I didn't know existed. I think that's one of the great things about the Clydesider, it gives a voice to groups that you never knew existed. And it's the way they're presented. It's very personal, but you know, it's factual. What they do and how they do it. The term unsung heroes, comes to mind.

Jenny: Do you have any advice for people thinking about volunteering?

Mary: I think possibly people think well I've got nothing to offer. And everyone has something. Even if it's you know, telling stories that grandma told you. And I think people underestimate their own abilities. Give it a try.

Traditional last question: Do you have a favourite biscuit?

Mary: Well, I don't eat biscuits. That's a lie, actually I just told a lie because in my cupboard is a packet of fig rolls. I wouldn't say they are my favourite, but it's the only one I eat now. Unless I go to a Clydesider meeting in which case I break the rule and eat a chocolate biscuit!