Scots senoras are making a real splash in sunny Spain
 But their fund-raising efforts on the island — including coffee mornings, clothes sales and dancing displays — have grown to such an extent that they’ve taken on a life of their own.
So much so that the women have not only managed to buy Santa Ponsa’s Community Church, but also a charity shop which some of their number now run.
Alice Steven, from Cumbernauld, explained, “We met gradually after going on holiday over the years to Santa Ponsa. Some of us met on flights, or buses from the airport and others met in the resort.
Grown and grown
“The group has grown and grown and now there are about 20 of us altogether, including women from England, Wales and Ireland. We’re all retired and have apartments over there, which we rent.
“Some, like myself, stay out there for five or six months while others just go for a few weeks.”
After using a room in a hotel as their church for far too long, the women decided they would raise money to buy and renovate the local church, which had fallen into disrepair.
With the help of their husbands, locals and anyone else who could be persuaded, they set about restoring and refurbishing the church, which is now looked after by an Irish pastor and open to people of all denominations.
Bunty Weir, from Elderslie, said, “The Church charity shop is jokingly referred to as the Harrods of Spain and now local people also help out.
“We sell clothes, bric-a-brac, toys and anything else people are kind enough to donate.
Peggy Doyle, of Shawlands, added, “It’s quite a community out here and it’s a joke among us that you go out to buy a loaf of bread and come back two hours later without it because you’ve bumped into so many people you know.
“We’re enjoying ourselves out here, so we thought it would be great if we could let others benefit at the same time.”
Alice continued, “One of the group, Mavis Lancaster, from England, was a dance teacher and brought a dance troupe, their mums and families on holiday. They raised a lot of money by performing a couple of times in a few resorts.
“And Nancy McInnes, from Greenock, is our top saleswoman and also helps us raise loads of cash.
Sand in the desert
“You can’t get out of the door of the charity shop without her talking you into buying something. She could sell sand in the desert!
“We also all meet whenever we can when we’re home in the Horse Shoe Bar in Glasgow and plan more activities.”
Helen Mills, from Paisley, is another of the group instrumental in raising funds every year.
She said, “One of the women who co-ordinates many of the events in the resort is Dora McFarlane, originally from Crookston in Glasgow.
“She lives permanently in Spain now and runs line dancing classes which a couple of the group went along to years ago.
“We’ve all been friends ever since, and Dora’s best friend sends her The Sunday Post every week, so she knows all about the CHAS campaign.
“We’ve previously donated money to an orphanage in Zambia, but after seeing the Sunday Post’s efforts to help build the new children’s hospice we decided it would be a great idea to donate some money to CHAS this year. We all greatly support what you are doing for the children and don’t think there could possibly be a better destination for the money we raise.”
The women gave 1000 euros (£735) to our campaign. |
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Some of the senoras back in Glasgow for one of their lunchtime meetings, from left, Helen Mills, Peggy Doyle, Bunty Weir and Alice Steven.
