April 25, 2002
Clyde 1 radio presenter George Bowie has a double reason for supporting the respite care services for families of children with severe learning disabilities, provided at Bridge of Weir by the charity Quarriers.
The "Bowie at Breakfast" star today (Thursday, April 25) opened Countryview, a new purpose-built unit at Quarriers Village, and revealed close family ties going back to the earliest days of his career as a DJ.
He explains: "My wee brother Alan couldn't talk and couldn't walk after his neck was twisted at birth. He needed total round the clock care, which was a big strain on my parents, so he came in to the old Campbell Maltman unit at Quarriers every second week-end or so, to give my Mum and Dad a break. The Quarriers people were just great with him."
That was back in the mid-Eighties, when a very fresh-faced young Bowie was still experimenting with turntables and microphones. "I more or less started my career at Quarriers," he said. "Because of the family connections, I used to do Christmas discos for the kids at the Campbell Maltman unit and the kids of staff. I had a little mobile disco that I usually used to practice at home and some records from my Dad's nightclub. We had a lot of fun."
The young Bowie is fondly remembered by Sandra Semple, who now manages Countryview, the children's respite care unit, which has developed from the Campbell Maltman unit. She says: "He was only about 18. He'd arrive and hump all of his gear from the back of his dad's car, set it all up and then give the kids a great time. His audience couldn't have been much more than 40 people, but he really put his heart into it.
"When we were thinking about who should do the official opening of Countryview, we simply couldn't think of any personality, apart from George, who connects better with young people."
The new, child-friendly unit provides a homely environment and more freedom for the children, age five to 18, who visit for a few days every month or so. Thursday's official opening will be a day of celebration for the staff and everyone who uses and has supported the service since February 1997. Close relationships between the staff, the children and their parents means the service has grown to provide a vital lifeline for many families.
Quarriers' chief executive Phil Robinson says: "Quarriers has established an excellent reputation as the main provider of respite care for children in Inverclyde and a significant provider in Renfrewshire. Countryview signifies a major investment and reflects our commitment to offering children and their families the best service. We are most grateful to the individuals and organisations who helped to fund the new unit, in particular the Gannochy Trust, Robertson Trust and Garfield Weston Foundation, which all provided significant grants."
Countryiew accommodates up to eight children at a time, enabling the new unit to support around 85 families each year. The children have learning disabilities, including some with complex needs and multiple physical disabilities, and every effort is made to ensure their stay is enjoyable. It is well stocked with play equipment, there is a large outdoor play area and the children enjoy regular outings to parks and the theatre as well as a variety of planned indoor activities.
END
Notes to Editor:
Quarriers is a Scottish charity number SC001960. Quarriers is Scotland's third largest care charity, number SC001960. Established in 1871, it provides a wide range of care services for children, families, young people and adults with a disability from around 70 projects at around 100 sites in west-central, south-west and north-east Scotland.
This information from Shona O'Donnell of The Business, public relations support to Quarriers. For more information please contact: Tel: 0131 718 6022 Fax: 0131 718 6145 Mobile: 07879 842527
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