THE Rotary Club of Girvan welcomed a superb talk from Community Fundraiser for ‘Quarriers’, Jordan Hogg.

Jordan travelled from Glasgow to chat about the work done by the modern Quarriers, where it came from and where it is today.

The name Quarrier came from William Quarrier who was born in Greenock. After his father, a ship’s carpenter, died from cholera when William was just three, the family moved to Glasgow. At the age of six, William began to contribute to the family income working a 10 hour day in a pin factory on a weekly wage of one shilling. At the age of eight, he became an apprentice to a shoe and bootmaker, becoming qualified when he was 12 years old.

In November 1864, on his way home one evening, he was moved by an encounter with a young boy who had been selling matches in the street. He was crying after his stock and night’s earnings had been stolen by an older boy. William decided to take up the cause of street children.

His endeavours grew into the Quarriers charity we see today, which is still dedicated to helping vulnerable children and families and adults.

Today, Quarriers is dedicated to working for better lives. It offers families resilience to deal with the challenges that life brings. It gives people affected by epilepsy a new life. It offers young homeless people support to unlock their potential and gives adults with disabilities more opportunities in life, and perhaps more importantly, a voice.

The Rev Jim Guthrie of Girvan Rotary explained to the visitor that as a young minister he was sent to Quarriers village for six weeks where he preached to congregations of 600 or maybe as a young minister it felt like 600.

Dr Jimmy Flowerdew, also a member of Girvan Rotary recounted visiting the Quarriers epileptic centre in Glasgow and explained that he found it at the cutting edge of investigation and treatment of the condition.

The Girvan Rotarians thanked Jordan for his talk and we hope he enjoyed our company and his visit to Girvan and the Royal Hotel.