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Rodger Gillespie was presented with his award by president Agnes Stewart from Campbeltown Rotary Club. To buy: c12rot01 |
BORN in 1937 in Campbeltown, where he went to school and grew up at Main Street, Rodger Gillespie was flattered to receive such a prestigious award.
He never thought for a moment that all his contributions over the many years he has lived, worked and socialised here would result in him being awarded Citizen of the Year 2007 by Campbeltown Rotary Club.
He received his award from President of Campbeltown Rotary Club, Agnes Stewart at a special dinner last month.
From an early age Rodger was involved in many clubs. When he was at school he was a member of the Cubs ad the Scouts, and took an interest in music from a young age, starting with singing.
When he grew bored of singing in his teens he decided to take up the challenge of teaching himself to play the accordion which he is now renowned for. He was a member of many bands playing all over Argyll and in places like Stornoway.
After leaving school in 1952 Rodger started an apprenticeship as a joiner with a local firm, and served there for five years. He then went onto work at the Aerodrome, with his last job being with YTS where he worked for 11 years.
As well as working, Rodger and the many different bands he played with, were hired to play to sell-out crowds in the Victoria Hall and all over Argyll.
Throughout the years Rodger has played in the hospitals to patients; even spending his Christmas Day there, to residents at Auchinlee, and at many charity events, bringing a smile to so many people’s faces and brightening up their day.
Whilst taking a large part to do with the music scene and carrying out a full time job, Rodger also taught gymnastics at the Community Centre, was a town councillor when he was 21 for nine years, convenor of the harbour and entertainments convenor, and then went onto become an Argyll and Bute councillor.
Rodger married his wife Flora in 1963, and has one daughter and a granddaughter.
He has had a weekly slot on Argyll FM since the station started up.
Although Rodger had the chance to go proffesional with his music he remained loyal to Campbeltown and stayed where he was, and still has a lot of respect for the people and the place.
He has had a lot of people influencing his life in a lot of ways, from his father to MG McCallum in the Grammar School, and Ian McCallum. His friend, the late Billy Wareham, was by Rodger’s side for many of the gigs they played, and when they played a lot at the hospitals.
But after all these years of playing in front of massive crowds at all sorts of gigs including small intimate ones in village halls, Rodger admits that he still gets nervous before playing a gig. He said: ‘I do still get nervous just before I play, no matter the size of the audience. I get more nervous when I am playing alone than in a band.
‘I played my first gig in Tarbert in 1955 at a country dance club.
‘I would like to express my good wishes to the school for all they have done for the youth of the town with music, they have done a marvellous job with all the different bands there are.’
Rodger has lived every day of his life to the full, taking each day at a time. He said: ‘I take every day as it comes and don’t regret anything - although life doesn’t always go smoothly. If I wasn’t happy doing what I do then I wouldn’t do it.
‘I am delighted to receive this award but it is one of those things you don’t expect to get. You don’t look for anything out of the work you do, I did it to get enjoyment and satisfaction out of it. I would do it all over again if I could.
‘I just did those things as part of living my life, I didn’t expect to get an award for it, but I am very flattered.’
