BETWEEN them they have completed 925 years of service to Glasgow...

and now the efforts of Cordia staff are to be rewarded.

Everyone from dinner ladies and janitors to catering staff in public buildings and carers will be honoured at a special Long Service Award lunch.

The meal marks the efforts of all 37 members of staff who began work in 1987 – giving them 25 years service.

Sadie Docherty, Glasgow's Lord Provost, will be attending the event. She said: "Cordia staff have a huge amount of valuable experience working in the public sector.

"Glasgow owes them a great deal of gratitude and the awards ceremony is just a small token of the council's appreciation in recognition of the hard work and dedication shown by these professionals throughout their career to date."

Cordia, a Glasgow City Council arms-length company, runs care services across the city as well as catering in schools and city museums.

The awards began in 2008 to reward staff with 25 years service or more, with 447 honoured so far.

Yvonne Grimes, from Yoker, started work in the NHS before changing to home care 25 years ago and now works in sheltered housing across Knightswood.

Her most memorable shift occurred last August when she delivered a baby en route to her first call of the morning.

A couple were in distress outside the sheltered housing in Dundas Court housing facility, with Yvonne quickly realising the lady was going into labour.

She immediately called NHS and safely delivered the baby with their guidance outside the block of houses.

The 54-year-old said she was thrilled to be taking part in the lunch.

Yvonne said: "I meet so many interesting people in my job I wouldn't change it for the world.

"I'm really looking forward to the event in the City Chambers."

Yvonne will be joined by Vicki Connor, from Dennistoun, who works as a cook at the Cook Freeze centre in Townhead.

The 41-year-old started there as a cadet at the age of 16 and has been there ever since.

Her baking skills were recognised by the centre's managers and she was asked to ice birthday cakes for the city council's 15 care homes.

She has now trained up another Cook Freeze staff member to help decorate the 500 cakes they send out annually.

Vicki said: "To be honest, I can't believe how quickly the 25 years have passed.

"It's nice to know that the birthday cake you are decorating is going to brighten up someone's day."

David Melvin, managing director at Cordia, will be hosting the lunch. He said: "Our 7000-strong workforce delivers some of the most important services to Glaswegians on a daily basis.

"The Cordia Long Service Awards allow us the opportunity to thank them for their invaluable service to the people of Glasgow over the last 25 years."

Councillor Bill Butler, chairman of Cordia, added: "I'd like to congratulate everyone who is celebrating this milestone, thanking them for their service."

catriona.stewart@ eveningtimes.co.uk