GLYNIS FINDLAY
A True Community Hero
Gill Sherry
After a 46-year teaching career, it’s fair to say Glynis Findlay deserves to put her feet up. But something tells me retirement won’t come easy to this dedicated, community-driven lady.
Kilmarnock born and bred, Glynis joined Onthank Primary in 1985, and has served as the school’s Deputy Head Teacher for the last 25 years.
“I’m leaving purely because I’ve done the 40 years. I absolutely love my job, but I knew I was going to have to retire one day.”
I suspect the feeling is mutual and that her colleagues and pupils will miss her as much as she’ll miss them. They certainly gave her a fabulous send-off.
“For the whole month of June, the school had something called ‘Findlay Fest’ where something happened every day, connected to myself, which was lovely. There was bunting everywhere, and posters. Lots of people had been involved.”
Knowing she enjoyed Afternoon Tea, they arranged a daily tea party as part of ‘Findlay Fest’ where Glynis invited 16 people to join her for tea and biscuits.
“I invited people from P1 up to P7. Everyone had a cup of tea in my china cups, which the kids absolutely loved. Afterwards, they were given a book – Mrs Findlay’s Finest Moments – to write something they remembered about me.”
Kilmarnock FC also had a special surprise for Glynis, announcing her as the latest Killie Community Hero.
“That was a nice surprise,” she tells me. “I didn’t know that was happening.”
The award recognised not just her four decades of commitment in the classroom, but the work she has done outside her role as a teacher, such as helping her school achieve Rights Respecting Schools Gold status.
“We have a care home across the road from the school called Crossgates. We have ambassadors in each class, and they write an action plan. The care home came up in the plan, so we contacted them and now half of the P3 class goes to the care home every week. They play games and do some baking with the teachers and the residents.”
Residents from Crossgates also attend events at the school including sports days and carol concerts.
“It’s called Intergenerational Education. It’s a good tick in the box for the Rights Respecting Schools Award,” Glynis says.
Glynis also led a clothing initiative, part of which, coincidentally, was taking place on the day of our conversation.
“We ask people to recycle old school uniforms that are too small. It’s all laid out for people to take anything they need. Tesco and Asda are also very good to us.”
Also, every December, Glynis takes part in the Night Before Christmas campaign which donates clothing and toys to those in need during the festive period. In fact, on her last day at work, colleagues had arranged for the tractor and sleigh used in that charitable campaign to be decorated for her retirement.
“So I went round the streets of Onthank in the back of a tractor!”
Her voice is alive with the same kind of passion that she has poured into her teaching career. So much so, I’m reluctant to ask what she intends to do now she’s retired.
“When the schools go back, my husband, Ross, and I are going to Venice. Then, when we come back, I’m going to take up golf. I used to play… and the Parent Council gave me a cheque when I left, so I’m going to buy new golf clubs and golf shoes and get myself back into golf.”
If she ‘putts’ as much energy into her golf as she did into her teaching, she’ll be a huge success!
Her final words, though, are unsurprisingly reserved for her teaching.
“I do love it, as you can tell. I don’t know how I’ll feel after the summer, but I’m sure I’ll be back doing something.”
I’m sure she will!
