A 92-year-old woman has finally called time on helping at the Samaritans’ Perth branch.
Edna McGregor was the longest-serving volunteer with the charity, having started working there in 1974 after the death of her first husband.
Edna worked as a machinist in a shoe factory in Norwich but was drafted to work in munitions during the Second World War, making ball-bearings for the war effort.
She moved to Perth in 1946 and worked in McEwen’s department store, mainly in gents’ tailoring.
Following her retirement, she helped to produce panto costumes for Perth Theatre for around 20 years.
Geoff Moran, of the Perth branch of the Samaritans, said: “Edna began as a listener in Perth in 1974. From then until the time of her laying down the phone at the end of her last call, she had served 40 years as a Samaritan.
“My guess for the number of hours Edna has logged on the phones and other duties is around 5,000.
“In those days Samaritans gave home visits, if required, in response to urgent and distressed telephone calls, tramping through rain and snow as summoned.”
He continued: “Always keen to extend and broaden her helping skills, Edna attended several national Samaritans conferences in York, where she kept herself and the rest of the Perth branch updated with the important and ever-changing issues of the day.
“One of her proudest innovations was Edna’s Table in the Perth branch a bring-and-buy table. Over the 38 years of its existence Edna’s Table raised many thousands of pounds.
“There are other stories of Edna’s war years to do with going into London for the dancing, sleeping down on the platforms of the Underground to avoid the Blitz and breaking the hearts of American GIs,” Mr Moran said.
“Edna leaves Perth Samaritans as she spent her time there neatly, without fuss, competently, compassionately and with a twinkle.”
The group has also marked the retiral of Rosemary Leslie, who had served with Perth Samaritans for 25 years.
Photo by Angus Findlay Photographers