Meet the Glasgow couple behind pensioners' club for 'livewires'

“He thought he was in for a quiet time,” she says, with a smile. “I said to him as soon as he got on, 'hope you’re ready for this crowd'. He just looked at us.

“But we told him - they’re livewires, this lot, you’ll need to be prepared for anything.”

She adds: "We old folk have more fun than the young ones..."

Milton Rattlers - jokily named because of all the pills they take for assorted health conditions - have been supporting older people in the north of the city for more than four years.

The Milton Rattlers, who won a Glasgow Community Champion Award last year (Image: Gordon Terris/Newsquest)

With support from the National Lottery and local businesses Allied Motors and Wheatley Glasgow, they run an assortment of activities and clubs at the Castlebay Tenants’ Association, including a free breakfast club, get-togethers and Christmas, Easter and summer events.

In December, they won the Senior category at the Glasgow Community Champion Awards, which are organised by the Glasgow Times and supported by Glasgow City Council, Trades House Glasgow, Wheatley Glasgow, Merck and LOCALiQ.

We are looking for nominations for this year’s awards - all you have to do is fill in the form on our website www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/community-champion-awards/entry-form/ or email stephen.laughlin@localiq.co.uk.

There are nine trophies on offer - Team Award, Individual Award, Public Service Award, Uniformed Services Award, Senior Award, Young Award, Health and Wellbeing Award, Sports Award and School Award.

The closing date is September 14. For more information, call 0141 302 6019.

The club meets several times a week. (Image: Gordon Terris/Newsquest)

A shortlist will go to a public online vote to determine the winners in each area – North East, North West and South - who will then progress to the Grand Final at Glasgow City Chambers on December 5. A judging panel made up of representatives from the award partners will decide the Grand Final winners.

“Oh we thoroughly enjoyed it, it was a fantastic night,” says Raymond Hunter, fellow founder and chairman of the club, and Margaret’s partner. (“You’ve heard of toyboys? Well, I call her my toygirl,” he says, with a hoot of laughter. “She is 75, I’m 89….”)

READ NEXT: 'To get this recognition is overwhelming': Community centre worker reacts to big win

He adds: “It was quite something for our wee club to be part of, and it reminded us that what we are doing here has made a difference to our part of Glasgow.”

When Raymond and Margaret set up the club, it had four members. Now, around 25 come regularly, with many more popping in for special events. Margaret is one of the youngest members; the oldest is 93.

“I think most people come to get out of the house, to save sitting looking at the same four walls all day,” explains Raymond.

“It’s also good for people to talk. You can sit down and ask a question about your electricity bill and suddenly, you’re in the middle of a full-blown conversation.

“Someone once said about the Milton Rattlers that you walk in a stranger and you walk out a friend.”

Raymond and Margaret are the lifeblood of the group, devoting all of their spare time and energy to keeping things going. They recently took their first fortnight’s holiday in four years - even during the pandemic, they kept in contact with local people who needed support, and delivered food baskets.

The Milton Rattlers, who help older people in the north of the city (Image: Gordon Terris/Newsquest)

The couple met through friends, “by accident”, says Margaret, many years ago.

Raymond was born in Maryhill and brought up in Milton, while Margaret spent her childhood in Lanark.

“I’m the country bumpkin,” she says. “I worked as a spinner for a rope company, and Raymond was in the army.”

Raymond adds: “I also drove tram cars, and ran two draper’s shops, but in later life, I was driving street cleaners for the cleansing department and I loved that job.”

Margaret Service and Raymond Hunter helped set up the group more than four years ago (Image: Gordon Terris/Newsquest)

They set up Milton Rattlers with a little help from Lord Provost Jacqueline McLaren, who often pops in for tea and a blether.

“When I see people appreciate what we are doing, that’s when I know we’re doing a good thing,” says Margaret.

“We’d encourage all Glasgow groups to get involved in the Community Champion awards,” beams Raymond.

“We’re so proud to have won, we went round chapping doors telling people and showing them the big story in the newspaper.”

Margaret agrees: “We loved it, and we are really proud of our trophy. Because we don’t have a permanent home of our own, we can’t leave it on display anywhere, so we just take it with us.”

The couple dissolve into laughter again. “I mean, not everywhere,” says Margaret, straight-faced. “We didn’t take it on the bus to Largs….”