Groups thank Lynn with farewell tea party

Community says au revoir to ‘people person’ Lynn

Local groups Power to the People and Spring Chickens got together to arrange a surprise summer tea party for popular community worker Lynn McCabe last month. Lynn has decided to take a career break and friends and colleagues couldn’t let her go without saying thanks for the wonderful work Lynn has carried out over the best part of thirty years in North Edinburgh.

Spring Chickens’ Linda Garcia told guests: “Lynn has worked in North Edinburgh for about 28 years and during that time has been involved with many groups and has organised many events. There are probably a lot more than I know about, but they include:

• North Edinburgh Childcare:  Lynn supported local women in their successful campaign for a Childcare Centre
• RAGTAG (Royston and Granton Tenants Action Group): Successfully campaigned for upgrades
• Health Issues in the community: Lynn was involved in developing the training pack
• West Pilton Action Group: Campaigned for improvements
• Beyond the Veil: worked with Pakeeza Muslim women’s group
• International Womens Day events: Lynn was at the forefront in organising these annual celebrations
• Never Give Up: Lynn led this social hiistory project which produced an exhibition, events and a book highlighting the history of community activism in North Edinburgh
• Women’s International Group (WIG): Lynn supported WIG’s campaigns and events
• Power to the People: Lynn supported this group which looked at the history of protest and activism
• Scottish history/arts and campaigns
• Getting Together, Making a Difference
• The Spring Chickens at Royston Wardieburn
• All About Me: Lynn supported the group of local mothers who are working to highlight the upsurge in homelessness following benefits reform

“She certainly has made a great difference to the lives of people in North Edinburgh; always doing her best for the people she worked with.

“Full of enthusiasm, Lynn is a people person – which is exactly what a community worker should be.

“Lynn will be a great miss but I think we owe it to all the people who fought for many years to get this centre (Royston Wardieburn) built to try and keep the groups going, despite the Council’s complete lack of understanding of the benefits of lifelong learning and the importance of getting together with other people in the community.

“Thank you, Lynn, for all your work and we all wish you the very best for the future.”

My own first encounter with Lynn was in the days of the Western General Action Group, when local people got together to fight plans to close the Accident and Emergency and Maternity Wards at the Western General Hospital. That campaign was ultimately lost, but local pressure on Lothian Health Board did at least see a ground-breaking Minor Injuries Unit opened at the hospital in 1994 – a much-valued service that still operates there to this day,

Since then, our paths have crossed so many times over the years – particularly during the mammoth undertaking which was the research for the local activism social history film and book. Lynn put her heart and soul into that project  – and the book title Never Give Up sums Lynn up perfectly!

Most recently, we worked together with Betty McVay to organise and stage an event for older people at Royston Wardieburn, which brought together groups from across North Edinburgh for a day of debate, discussion and entertainment.

Lynn took on by far the lion’s share of the work and it really was a great success. For me, it was a fitting finale which showcased so many  of Lynn’s qualities: hard work, attention to detail, planning and most importantly, her ability to listen to and empathise with the people of the community she has supported for so long – and all undertaken with a healthy sense of humour, even when there was a wee setback or two!

Malcolm Chisholm, another member of the old Western General Action Group, attended the farewell Tea Party. He said: “Lynn is one of the finest community workers I have ever come across, among the very, very best. She will certainly be missed in North Edinburgh.”

Enjoy your career break, Lynn – and good luck in whatever you decide to do in the future.