One of the Samaritans’ longest-serving listening volunteers has been honoured in Dumfries.
The honorary title of patron of the branch was awarded to 83-year-old Barbara MacLure by the charity’s chief executive Julie Bentley on a visit to the town on Monday.
Barbara did the first-ever shift at the newly-established Dumfries branch of Samaritans on Sunday, March 1, 1980 – becoming its chairman nine years later.
She continued as a listening volunteer, taking calls from people who are struggling, right up until the Covid pandemic.
And she was instrumental in fundraising efforts to enable the purchase of the property at Loreburn Street in the town which served as Samaritans’ main hub in south west Scotland until a move to new premises in October 2021.
Her late husband, Malcolm, although not a Samaritan, set up and ran a charity shop in the basement which brought in much-needed income.
Barbara told the Standard she decided to help the charity after meeting its founder, Chad Varah.
She said: “He was friends with my father when he lived in Barton-upon-Humber, and that sparked my interest.
“I then attended a meeting organised in Dumfries by the then Minister of my church who had been asked to set up a Samaritans branch in Dumfries by a branch in Glasgow.”
Barbara’s parents, for whom she was a carer, lived with her for a time.
Her mum, not knowing Barbara was a Samaritan, thought she was having an affair as she was often away during the night.
“In the early days, you didn’t tell anyone you were a Samaritan,” said Barbara.
“Night duty was very frequent and, back in the day, the volunteers, often on their own, had a mattress on the floor with a phone next to them. And, if needed, they would go out and visit the person who had called – as ‘the flying squad’. Calls then were very few – perhaps three or four for a whole shift – which left plenty of time for knitting, chatting or whatever your interests were.”
The charity’s Dumfries branch director, Ann Stephenson, said: “Barbara’s legacy is there for all to see and I am delighted we can now formally acknowledge all that she has done for Dumfries Samaritans by her becoming a patron of the branch.”
A branch colleague, Kirsten, added: “Barbara has been a constant support for us all over the last 40 years with her gentle encouragement and wisdom.”
The charity’s executive director for Scotland, Rachel Cackett, said: “I’d like to say a huge thank you to Samaritans’ amazing volunteers in Scotland who keep the lights on and lines open.
Monday’s ceremony coincided with the launch of the listening charity’s new Tackling Suicide Together strategy for Scotland.
