Tributes paid to gentleman Jim

Jim Gorman, who built up a stellar reputation for his work within the container industry during a 37 year career, died earlier this year at the age of 69.

In a fitting tribute to Jim, a special charity concert was organised to raise money for Merino Court Care Home in Greenock, where he was cared for during the last few years of his life.

His wife Wilma praised the staff as she spoke about Jim’s battle with vascular dementia – a condition caused by problems in the supply of blood to the brain.

Wilma said: “Everyone thinks they know about this illness and the most asked question was ‘Does Jim remember who you are?’ but there is so much more to the condition.

“Firstly Jim lost his confidence, sense of direction and his ability to do the most basic tasks that we all take for granted.

“He found this very stressful and it was very difficult for us as a family to watch this happen.

“Jim also became claustrophobic and needed to be out all the time. All the many facets of his life seemed to slip away.” After her husband developed the condition aged 65, Wilma received help from social services while his brothers and sisters also rallied to help out.

Before becoming unwell, Jim had led a ‘very full and interesting life’.

He was brought up in Gourock – the eldest boy in a family of six – and his first job was in a butcher’s shop, before taking up an apprenticeship in Scott’s in Greenock, where he trained to become a sheet metal worker.

In 1965 he met Wilma and they married two years later.

Wilma said: “Life was difficult working in the ship building industry as there were constant strikes, so he left first to a small firm producing window frames, then in 1970 he joined a company repairing containers for the export and import industry – a new way of goods moving around the world.

“He just loved it and he was asked to join Hapag Lloyd, the German shipping line, to look after their containers at a small piece of land where the Beacon now stands.” This was the opening to a long association with the container industry.

Wilma said: “His company was taken over three times but Jim was always kept on.

“He became a director with one company and then a manager covering Scotland.

“They were very successful and had to move to get land big enough for the business, so he ended up in Grangemouth which was a long journey from our home in Largs, so he took early retirement in 2007 at 62.

“This was a blessing as he had three good years which he loved before dementia kicked in.” Jim doted on his family, including his three grown-up children and four grandchildren, and also made special friends throughout his career.

Wilma added: “Jim treated everyone the same. It didn’t matter to him if you were the boss of the company or the tea boy.

“He was content with his life, a wonderful husband, a great father and was so proud of his grandchildren.” He was also well-known and respected in the golfing fraternity and became captain at Routenburn Golf Club in Largs, where he spent many happy hours with friends and family.

As a special tribute to Jim, a charity gig was organised at The Cruden Hall in Greenock, with Jim’s twin brothers Willie and Henry taking to the stage with their popular band Rivendell.

The renowned local band, which also includes their childhood friends Ronnie Garrity and Brian Sinclair, reunited and helped to raised £2,350 for Merino Court.

Wilma added: “The family would like to say a special thank you to his other family, who all live and work at Merino Court Care Home.

“For the last couple of years of Jim’s life they cared for him as if he was their own family, with great dignity and compassion.” Willie was keen to thank everyone who supported the event including musicians Suzanne Mckenzie and Kevin Gurney, sound engineer Hugh Harris from The Beacon Theatre and DJ Des Cummings.

Special thanks also go to Ronnie Garrity for organising the gig and Scott Beaton who was the support act on the night.