A TOTAL of 179 years of volunteering was celebrated at the Barnardo’s store in Cowdenbeath last week.

Two of the workers, May Scott and Ella Neilson, both 79, have clocked up a total of 42 years each after initially only agreeing to help out over the charity shop’s first Christmas period.

Amelia Howie, who is now store manager, was also one of the first volunteers to help along with May and Ella back in November 1975.

“When the shop first opened, we had someone from Barnardo’s come to the Young Life Group at Beath North Church saying they were needing

someone to man the shop over Christmas,” she explained. 

“It has been a long Christmas period!

“A couple of the others have done 27 years and the rest are all at about 10 to 15 years so it is quite impressive. 

“I did 21 years as a volunteer before I became the store manager.”
With such a long service record between them, the ladies are well known in Cowdenbeath’s High Street. 

“We have been here for a long time and I think we are onto about our third generation of customers’ families,” Amelia smiled.

“People are generous and are very loyal to us.”

As a thank-you, the long-serving volunteers were presented with certificates from area manager Deriel Watt to mark national volunteer week.