Eco grandad Tom 'Tom-Tom' Thomas awarded British Empire Medal for remarkable record of voluntary work in Maryburgh community
A VOLUNTEER prepared to do a good turn for anyone – ranging from primary school pupils learning about gardening to hospice patients nearing the end of their days – has been recognised for his remarkable community spirit at an celebratory gathering in Maryburgh, the village he made home.
The presentation of the British Empire Medal to Thomas Lincoln Thomas (82) was made by Lord Lieutenant Joanie Whiteford in recognition of services to education, horticulture and the community in Maryburgh, where he has been a long-standing gardener and community council member.
Tom-Tom as he is affectionately known, was delighted to be joined by more than 30 friends and family at the Cottage Bar and Restaurant in Maryburgh.
He grew up in the deprived area of West Pilton, Edinburgh, and has always had a kind spirit.
In 1990 he was first on scene to a helicopter crash that he witnessed.
After watching the chopper plummet into flats at Giffnock’s Eastwood Toll, he rushed in to the scene and helped to pull three survivors to safety.
He was a community volunteer in Ainslie Park Youth Club and was a member of the Crime Protection Panel in Glasgow for years.
Mr Thomas then moved to the village of Maryburgh 19 years ago to live nearer to his daughter.
There, he helped the village gala, redeveloped the village hall, was active in the church and the community council.
He created both community and remembrance gardens and looks after the flower tubs, heather and wildflower gardens and created a more connected village.
In the primary school he helps children get their Eco award, and teaches pupils his gardening skills as their ‘Eco-Grandad’.
He shows no signs of stopping, and looks forward to continuing to spruce up his local area’s green spaces.
“It was a terrific day. It was absolutely super,” Mr Thomas said of the celebrations. “With help, I’m involved in the planting of the flowers and trying to keep the weeds down and bring on some stuff in the greenhouse for the community.
“Generally, I just do that. I am on the community council and have been a community person all my life and of course the eco grandad in the school. I would love to get back fairly soon.
“Generally I help out anybody that needs help.”
He is also a befriender at the Highland Hospice, where he meets people a few times a week.
“I let them have somebody to talk to and have somebody to listen to. I enjoy every minute of it,” he continued. “I plan to keep helping out the community until I drop.”
Mrs Whiteford said: “Tom Thomas, Eco Grandad, Tom Tom, how lucky are we that you decided to make Ross and Cromarty your home some 19 years ago. You have really made a difference to this village of Maryburgh, enhancing both its community spirit and appearance through gardening and growing, and bringing young and old together in a love of the natural world.
“In this a small community, a single energetic person can take on a great many roles and become a lynchpin of volunteering in the village – and this is what Tom has done.
“Though, by his own admission, he says that he can be the bane of the councillors’ lives and he sometimes wondered whether they had a red light warning on their phones whenever his number popped up.”
