Considering Bannockburn's history, do you feel more patriotic coming from there?

I'm very proud to have been brought up there, but you just really think of it as your home town.

My wife is from there too and as it is only around 20 miles away we both visit quite a lot.

But I did have a baseball cap which said 'Scottish and proud of it' so maybe coming from Bannockburn has had some effect!

Is there any job you enjoyed the most?

I always liked working as I enjoy the company of others, so there isn't really a favourite.

I seemed to move jobs every five years which meant you met up with all sorts of people.

I was chief clerk with the fire brigade and got to know everyone from the highest rank to the lowest, then I was senior administration officer with the council.

That involved a lot of meetings and getting to know everyone.

Did you keep yourself busy once you retired?

I was only 52 when I took early retirement and I felt it was still too early to just sit about the house.

I got a job with Scottish Mutual and was essentially the office 'gopher', but I really enjoyed my time there.

Even though I worked beside a lot of youngsters, they still treated me as one of their own even though I was in my 50s.

What did you enjoy doing in your spare time?

A friend of mine used to do a lot of running so I decided to take it up and found I really enjoyed it.

I did some half-marathons in places like Edinburgh, Stirling, Falkirk and Alloa.

I had knee surgery recently which makes me think I wouldn't get back into it, but there are people in their 80s who still do marathons so I suppose you never know.

What is the Probus Club of Kirkintilloch?

It is a club for retired or soon-to-be retired businessmen and professionals who worked or lived in the Kirkintilloch area.

Overall, it is really a social club to bring together people with a variety of interests and allow them to make new friends.

What kind of backgrounds do the members come from?

We have just over 60 members and they all have a wide range of experience and past jobs.

It is great to have that kind of diversity as you learn so much about different careers and you get people from different backgrounds socialising together.

Do you get a lot out of it?

Definitely and I think all the members do.

We have a wide range of speakers, have social events like Christmas lunches and Burns' Suppers and have been on trips to places like The Falkirk Wheel, Glengoyne Distillery and the Royal Yacht Britannia.

Some retired men might live by themselves so it is important to have that kind of social side to your life.

* The Probus Club of Kirkintilloch meet at St. Columba's Church hall, Waterside Road, every alternate Friday from 1.45p to 4pm.
All retired businessmen and professionals are welcome to attend. For more information call George on 0141 578 4155.

Getting to know you

First car: Morris Minor 1000
First record: Smoke Gets In Your Eyes by The Platters
Favourite TV programme: CSI
Book currently reading: Conspiracy in Death by J.D. Robb
Favourite holiday destination: Las Vegas
Famous person most like to meet: Tom Weir