AFTER spending more than 50 years giving up his time for others, Bobby Hetherington is preparing to retire ...

by setting himself one last goal – to raise £1000 for Marie Curie.

The 80-year-old from Milton has offered his services for free for 30 years at the Marie Curie Hospice in Springburn.

He enjoyed tea and cakes with nurses in the hospice canteen yesterday as he prepared to conclude his voluntary commitments.

He will formally retire from volunteering next Friday, and has organised a fundraising dance at St Augustine's church hall on Ashgill Road in Milton, at which he hopes to raise a four-figure sum.

Mr Hetherington said: "I've always done charity work – I like to look after people.

"I was brought up being told that if you can't do someone a good turn, then don't do them a bad turn.

"I still feel that way. I always like to help people."

The hospice's fundraising team estimate that given four years of his free time to help others.

In 2010, he received a Marie Curie long service award, from Deacon Blue, at the charity's annual black tie Daffodil Ball.

He received further acknowledgement of his efforts in April when he was named a runner-up in the Senior category of the Glasgow Community Champion Awards at a ceremony held at North Glasgow College.

A former printer and dispatcher in the newspaper industry, Mr Hetherington began helping disability charities more than 50 years ago while still working full-time.

After suffering four heart attacks, and subsequently being paid off from his job, he increased his voluntary commitments.

Murray Easton, hospice fundraising manager, said: "He will be really missed – guys like Bobby don't grow on trees.

"Bobby is a bit of a whirlwind – a sprightly and cheeky 80-year-old with a heart of gold.

"People take to him and he is very good at looking after his local community.

"A lot of people have run, swam, trekked, sky-dived or held a night in aid of Marie Curie as a result of Bobby championing the cause."

Mr Hetherington's first wife, Cathy, died of a heart attack 10 years ago.

He has since remarried, tying the knot four years ago with Nuala, a cleaner at the hospice.

His fundraising activities have included organising dances, bowling competitions, dressing as Santa at the annual Christmas fayre and general admin duties for the fundraising team.

In addition, he regularly distributes and collects Marie Curie donation cans around local shops and venues.

Evening Times readers, through supporting our Big Build fundraising campaign, helped towards the cost of building the £16.1 million, 30-bed Marie Curie hospice at Stobhill Hospital.

It was officially opened by Prince Charles in June 2011.

maureen.ellis@ eveningtimes.co.uk