Jim McGoran was supported by the Erskine organisation after falling in love with the activity while attending the Bishopton-based charity’s activity centre.
A pensioner is sculpting a new career as a potter – after picking up the hobby at the age of 75. Jim McGoran, 78, took lessons in pottery with veteran support charity Erskine.
The former British Army cadet and Territorial Army commissioned officer is now an amateur potter; and his love for the craft has only grown since he started out three years ago.
Jim discovered his talent for throwing and sculpting clay while attending the Bishopton-based charity’s activity centre. It was there he tried pottery for the first time and he has never looked back. Erskine supports veterans such as Jim by offering a range of activities and social opportunities.
After being introduced to pottery, Jim was soon delighting fellow veterans and residents of the Erskine community with his newfound skill – leading to custom requests from family members. He says that taking up a new hobby at his age was something he hadn’t considered.
“Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be taking up a new hobby at the age of 75,” he said, “and still practicing it at 78.
“But thanks to the range of creative therapies available at Erskine, I gave it a shot, loved it and, over time, realised I had quite a unique talent for creating sculptures and replicas.”
One of Jim’s most notable achievements was the opportunity to exhibit his pottery at the prestigious Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow.
The exhibition centred around themes of the River Clyde, with Jim’s pottery contributions featuring intricate designs inspired by the Finnieston Crane and cargo ships once used to load cars and tanks on their onward journey down the Clyde.
The exhibition, which was organised by Erskine and ran from December 2023 to May 2024, was not just an opportunity for Jim and other residents to showcase their talent but also a chance for him to give back to the charity.
Several pieces of his pottery were sold with all proceeds going towards supporting the organisation that has done so much for him.
“After getting to grips with the pottery wheel,” Jim explained, “I started getting a bit more adventurous with some of the things I was making and recently managed to create a replica of the Finnieston Crane – that took me eight months so it was a labour of love but worth every moment.
“I couldn’t believe the reaction to my work when it went on exhibition in Kelvingrove. It is astonishing that people were actually impressed enough to buy it.”
Jim found himself seeking support from Erskine after losing his wife Jean in 2021 and then fighting his own battle with oesophageal cancer.
He was welcomed with open arms and receives unrestricted access to the charity’s services including creative therapy, talking therapy, archery and healthcare services, from hearing clinics to podiatry, while also enjoying a sense of community with other residents.
When asked what Erskine means to him, Jim said: “If Erskine and ERMAC wasn’t there, I would be lost throughout the week. It gets me up and out and it keeps me active. I certainly look forward to it and it’s made a tremendous difference to me.”
Charities such as Erskine rely heavily on funding and donations to provide its extensive range of services.
Erskine benefits from being part of a charity consortium, Bighearted Scotland, established more than 30 years ago to help four Scottish charities collaborate to achieve more effective fundraising via payroll giving.
According to the charities behind the campaign, the amount donated by payroll giving has declined by 15 per cent over the last 10 years. The number of people donating has also declined by 13 per cent.
Deborah Roe, chair of Bighearted Scotland, said: “We love Jim’s story about discovering new hobbies and passions in his 70s and it helps to highlight the invaluable work that charities such as Erskine do in local communities.
“These charities rely heavily on donations from people, that’s where Bighearted Scotland comes in. By donating via payroll giving you can be guaranteed you are supporting a range of charities spanning various causes and making a real impact, to real people.”
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