A GENEROUS Greenock gent ‘gobsmacked’ after winning a luxury cruise has shown the true spirit of Christmas — by donating his outstanding prize to Ardgowan Hospice.

Douglas Hamilton was delighted to land a dream Fred Olsen trip via a Barrhead Travel draw to mark the holiday agency’s first birthday in the Oak Mall.

However, kind Douglas has decided that a member of the hospice’s staff and volunteers should get the voyage instead — after seeing their ‘sterling’ work at first hand.

He told the Telegraph: “I’m giving the cruise away because they deserve it more than I do.

“I was at the hospice for family reasons during the summer and I saw the dedication of the care staff there for myself. These girls just do so much.” The Barrhead Travel draw – organised by manager Roseanne Gage – raised £200 for the hospice as holidaymakers snapped up tickets in the hope of landing the cruise.

Winner Douglas said: “I just want it to be enjoyed by someone else – someone who works at the hospice.

“I was in collecting tickets for another holiday I had booked when Roseanne asked me if I would like to take part in the raffle for Ardgowan.

“I bought £10 worth of tickets and Roseanne phoned me out of the blue last Tuesday to tell me that I’d won the cruise!

“I was just gobsmacked – I think I’ve only ever won a fruitcake before.” Douglas added: “That night it just dawned on me all of the sterling work that the staff at the hospice do.

“It was then that I decided that it would be really good to donate the cruise.

“The details haven’t been worked out yet, but I would hope that another draw can take place so that someone from the staff at the hospice can win it.” It means one lucky hospice worker will sail from Greenock to Dublin and back again on a £1,000 three-night Fred Olsen cruise onboard the company’s ship ‘Black Watch’ next November or December.

Barrhead Travel manager Roseanne said: “I was overwhelmed at Mr Hamilton’s gesture. I got quite emotional when he explained his reasons for doing it.

“It is a very generous thing to do — especially at this time of year.” She added: “The Fred Olsen rep comes in here quite often and I told her that I’d like to do something special to mark our shop’s first birthday here in the Oak Mall.

“She just told me straight off the bat, ‘I’ll see about getting you a free cruise’, and so it transpired.

“We raised £200 for the hospice itself through the prize draw – but Mr Hamilton giving the prize away really tops everything off.” Ardgowan chief executive, Anne Mills, said: “We are so overwhelmed by the generosity of Barrhead Travel and Fred Olsen Cruises for creating this prize and also to Mr Hamilton for donating this directly to the staff and volunteers for their own Christmas draw.

“This is a true demonstration of kindness by a local company and a resident of Inverclyde, and what a fantastic way to end what has been a very busy year.

“Our incredible volunteers are very much at the heart of our staffing base and we shall include our 250 brilliant folk, who give their personal time on a daily and weekly basis, to support our patients and their families from Inverclyde.

“Thank you for always remembering us this Christmas especially, Barrhead Travel and Mr Hamilton.” * You can still give to the Hospice through its ‘Light Up A Life’ Christmas appeal by visiting the virtual Christmas tree on by logging on to www.ardgowanhospice.org.uk