Mair Gilbride
Mother of five, Mair is passionate about helping people and has spent her working life looking after the elderly and the sick.
On leaving school, she fulfilled her ambition and qualified as a nurse before becoming a senior staff nurse. In her late 20s she put her career on hold to have and raise a family.
On returning to work, she worked as a carer and was shocked to see the number of people left isolated and alone.
As a result of this, Mair could see there was a real need for a bespoke companionship service in her local area aimed at keeping people connected to their family, friends and the wider community at large.
Passionate about Helping People
Mair, who lives in Dunblane, says: “ Often ill health or the loss of a partner means a person can be left pretty much on their own. They may have sons, daughters or other relatives nearby but don’t want to feel they are a burden so never ask for help. Or they may have no family or friends nearby at all so have no-one to turn to.
“In both instances, if mobility is an issue then they can quickly lose touch with any friends and acquaintances they do have and their life can plunge into a downward spiral of loneliness and despair.
“I’m passionate about keeping my clients connected and helping them live as full and enjoyable a life as possible.
“I’m a natural people person and like to feel I can put people at ease on meeting me for the first time. I enjoy meeting new people.”
Mair adds : “I love taking clients out to meet friends or on a shopping trip or even. Just sitting down to have a nice chat over a coffee.
There’s no greater feeling of satisfaction than seeing one of my clients happy and content and smiling from cheek to cheek after one of our outings.
“Equally I get great satisfaction from taking a client to a medical appointment and ensuring they are comfortable and relaxed and get there and back home safely”.
“I’m passionate about keeping my clients connected and helping them live as full and enjoyable a life as possible.
Jim Walker
Jim Walker started with Artemis in October 2017
Previously he had 40 years’ experience in various roles throughout the financial industry. He lived and worked in Glasgow, London and Edinburgh with the Bank of Scotland for 34 years then a further 7 years in Edinburgh with State Street Bank before finally moving to Stirling.
He’s a keen golfer and is a member at Dunblane New Golf Club and also enjoys going to a local church in Stirling.
Jim said: “I share Mair and Franks’ passion about caring and helping people. I gain a great deal of pleasure taking our clients out and also creating a strong bond between us.
I have first hand experience of this having looked after both my father in law and mother in law who both suffered ill health in their latter years and currently with my own mother who is now in a nursing home.”
Lesley McCulloch
Lesley has been a companion for Artemis since October 2017.
With a career background in leadership, coaching and consulting to large organisations to create accredited training courses, Lesley realised her natural ability to provide genuine care for vulnerable individuals when her dad developed Parkinson’s disease and ultimately dementia.
Her last eighteen months with her dad were some of the closest, most precious she had ever had, and she now provides that same support, respect, discretion, patience, integrity and personal championing to our Artemis clients.
Eddie Williamson
Eddie Williamson started with Artemis in April 2019.
Eddie has had a somewhat varied forty year career working partly in education as both a Drama and classroom teacher at Secondary and Primary, in youth work, and directorship with interdenominational church cha
Eddie said: “I have always been a ‘people person’ rather than a task orientated worker and Artemis seems like a natural extension to my career and life. You do come to know both clients and families very genuinely and quickly.”
Having seen premature illness overtake both of his parents some years back he recognises the difference that hands on practical companionship makes.
Call: 07896 230 809 | 07969 164 979
