Molly Armstrong Scotland News
Just before Norrie McIntosh’s wife died in 2001, she urged him to keep using his “brilliant mind” to help others.
She wanted him to offer his expertise on employment issues to people using the Dumfries and Galloway Citizens Advice Service.
He agreed, and after a long career as a draughtsman and trade union regional organiser, he signed up as a volunteer.
Now after 25 years with the service, and at the age of 91, Norrie has decided to retire – but he’s urging others to follow in his footsteps.
Norrie told Scotland News he retired from paid employment in 1996.
Three years later he moved from Glasgow to Dumfries and Galloway with his wife, Jean.
“Unfortunately, my late wife had leukaemia and she had little time to live,” he said.
“We were having a discussion about what life would be like for me when she passed on.
“She was very, very courageous, she thought more about other people than she did about herself.
“And she said to me ‘you’ve got a brilliant mind’, which is probably an exaggeration, but she said, ‘I’d like you to volunteer for Citizens Advice because you’re not using your mind.'”
Norrie offered free advice on a range of scenarios while working with the charity.
“Some issues were complex, for example, unfair dismissal,” he said.
“But other issues were much more simple – not getting the correct amount of pay or not getting the correct amount of holidays.”
He said it led to lasting relationships with the people he helped.
“This lady came in one morning in tears,” he said.
“I sat down in the interview room and gave her a tissue and said, what’s wrong?
“She says, ‘nobody has believed my story’ and I say, ‘tell me your story’.”
Norrie believed the woman, telling her that he believed she was “sincere”.
“I managed to get the lady a settlement and she became a friend for life,” he said.
“If she saw me in the street, she would stand and wave across to me.
“One day, her husband came across to me in a café and said, ‘I’d like to thank you for everything you did for my wife, and the way that you carefully listened to her’.”
Norrie is retiring due to ill health but he will remain on the board of directors with Dumfries and Galloway Citizens Advice Service for the immediate future.
He urged others to sign up to volunteer as he found it “very rewarding”.
“If you enjoy helping people, give it a trial,” he said.
“And it’s important that we support organisations like Citizens Advice.
“Without it, the poorer section of the community will suffer badly.”
Philip Stewart, the chief executive of the service, said Norrie had been at the “heart” of the its workforce of volunteers for “a very long time”.
“I’ve known him for the last eight years that I’ve been with the service, and his wisdom, life experiences and calm temperament have been invaluable,” he added.
“Norrie’s largest contribution to the service has been his determination to ensure natural justice is achieved for people from all backgrounds, which he has done throughout his service for his clients.
“If anybody is inspired by Norrie and his journey, please get in touch for an application form as we would love to hear from you.”
