You can probably tell that the above picture is not the outside of a tearoom. It is, however, a picture of Glasgow Royal Infirmary and inside is a tearoom which is close to our hearts. Pat used to work there on a voluntary basis. In order to explain that a little bit of background is required.

Dorcas Society

In 1862, Beatrice Clugston visited Glasgow Royal Infirmary and found some distressing scenes. It was before Florence Nightingale. Nurses had no training and little understanding of comfort, hygiene or infection. So she set up the Dorcas Society, named after Dorcas, in the Book of Acts who made clothes and did good deeds among the poor and sick. The Dorcas Society would organise three weeks holiday in Dunoon for convalescing patients and their families … those were the days! Mabel Mackinlay joined the Society at the end of WW1 and soon saw the need for a cup of tea for the outpatients waiting to be seen at clinics.

The tearoom she set up is still going today and generates hundreds of thousands of pounds dedicated to patient welfare. Mabel ran the tearoom on a very strict basis until she retired aged 91. Every day they were on duty each volunteer, usually a doctor’s wife, had to supply a pan loaf made up into sandwiches, 20 cakes and 20 scones. And a clean pinny (apron).

Nowadays, because of the regulations around food handling, it has to be run by paid staff but it wasn’t that long ago that Pat was the Convenor of the Society and ran the clothing room. It provided clean clothing to patients being discharged. We had to be in the Infirmary anyway so we took a wee nostalgia trip to the tearoom. It was late in the day however, just as they were closing, so we were not sure if we would get anything never mind a scone.

Luck was with us however and we just managed to squeeze one in at closing time. To be honest, the scones were not too bad but not too great either. We would urge you though, if you ever find yourself in Glasgow Royal to come here just to buy a scone if nothing else to support the good work of the Dorcas Society. It would make Mabel very proud.

Women of principle

With the general election only about a week away the squabbling and vitriol is not particularly edifying. The Prime Minister’s refusal to debate with other leaders, even though it would not have achieved much, is particularly cowardly. Not the sort of thing that either Beatrice or Mabel would have stood for. They were women of real principle and courage!

G31 2ES     Mabel’s