David Hardie interview
David Hardie, one of the founders of Columcille interviewed by Columcille Crafts Leader, Angela Nisbet, who has known David for over 20 years.
AN: We’re going to talk about Columcille and how long you’ve been here because you started here at Columcille in May 1996 and that was the month that Columcille opened. Do you remember what it was like then, back in 1996?
DH: It was different. When I first joined Columcille it came as a bit of a surprise to me. It is good for me because if I wasn’t at Columcille, I wouldn’t do what I’m doing now. And that’s because you’ve built Columcille from scratch. And you’ve got a service now that provides even more services for people with disabilities. It’s brought people together. It means it shows it’s different and that people know what’s best for them.
AN: So, what particular things is it that you like about Columcille?
DH: Its friendly. It’s a friendly service, nice staff, people coming to Columcille to participate in music groups and stuff, you know. Even something like that is now on a bigger scale and being in the art room is changed, its different as well, cause the art room is different now. And it’s showing that Columcille is a straightforward service that has probably been underneath a long time thinking. If it wasn’t for Columcille, I wouldn’t be here at all. Columcille was showing that services that you’ve got an input into and about how special it is to be at Columcille and how special it is to the people.
AN: What about to you? Is it special to you?
DH: It is to me in a way, yea. And it sort of shows I benefit from Columcille as well.
AN: What have the benefits been do you think for you?
DH: It’s been, doing art and music. Because that’s what I am doing.
AN: You have done art and music. Do you remember the Ceilidh band?
DH: Yea, I joined the Ceilidh band – what – 1996, that’s what I really miss. I really miss the Ceilidh band.
AN: Do you remember any gigs that you played?
DH: The Castle. For a wedding. One night it was down the main road to New Lanark, we went there, got unloaded, set up the session and that; and then had the Ceilidh the same night, it was absolutely packed with people in New Lanark. I’ve been there several times. Lots of people came together. James Brown, John Wintrup, myself.
AN: So it was Alistair, you, James, Sandy and Kerry.
DH: Mhm. Emma came to the Ceilidh band, she is American. And she is a fiddle player, really good. Me, Kerry, Emma and James, Sandy; and Alistair is going: ‘let’s go for it guys’ and it was brilliant. And we did do quite a lot of travelling with the band as well. We travelled to quite a few places, Corstorphine church. So, Alistair goes on the stage and says ‘right let’s go for it’, and this guy goes: ‘he’s very good at what he’s doing’.
AN: Well, you are a very good drummer.
DH: I am self-taught. Five years old and now I am 65.
AN: Did you ever have anything to do with Music for All with Graham?
DH: Yea, that was really good as well. That was at Craigmillar Hall. We did a lot of stuff there as well with the Ceilidh band as well. We’ve done a lot of different things over the years.
AN: What do you think you learned?
DH: Quite a lot I’d say. Like be quite patient, understanding what music is about. Learning from that is a process and now I am doing better now here. I’ve done really well for myself and I’m proud of it.
AN: You have done really well. What do you think you’ve changed?
DH: Making sure I get things right. And making sure I kept developing new skills. Is that a good thing?
AN: That is a very good thing. What kind of things do you think you have developed?
DH: Not playing too loud. Trying to be more friendly. I am very caring. I am a caring person.
AN: What other things?
DH: Listening. I mean, I have done a lot over the years. This is my life. I can’t do much more than that.
AN: I can imagine you’ve gone through a few different places that you’ve lived but you’ve always come to Columcille. I imagine that being a good thing. That Columcille has always been here for you. Do you think that’s helped?
DH: Mhm. What happened to me in Gogarburn was horrible. It was terrifying for me. I remember what it was like.
AN: I know it was a really difficult time for you.
DH: It was really hard for me. I couldn’t even get up.
AN: You moved from Gogarburn and you went to – was it Morningside Drive?
DH: Morningside Park. But I went to William Fraser first.
AN: And then out to the new flat you’ve got now. So that’s been some big changes over the years. It’s good, isn’t it, all of those changes and you still stayed coming here. Has that helped?
DH: It has, aye. You’ve been there for me. You’ve been there when I needed it most. Somewhere to turn to. Because people like us have a difficult time. It was hard. Where I was, it was very hard. I didn’t have access to anything.
AN: Times changed.
DH: 9 years outside.
AN: Has it been that long?
DH: 9 years.
AN: I remember you moving. I remember hearing about it. You moved out to your flat, you’ve got a nice place.
DH: You’ve seen it.
AN: Yea, I visited your house during lockdown remember? We would go out for coffee and cake. So what do you reckon that if somebody was going to come to Columcille and they asked you, what would you say? If they would say, David, I am interested in coming to Columcille what do you think I should do? What would you tell them?
DH: I’d say, it’s up to you, it’s your choice. I can’t make that choice for you; you need to make that choice yourself. You see for yourself, you see if you like Columcille, you can come to Columcille and join it. If its what you want to do, then go for it because it’s like a community. At Columcille everyone has ups and downs and everyone here at Columcille – they are all very friendly. Columcille is a good service over the years. Do what you can for yourself and then push ahead for it. You’ve got a great staff team here, all very kind.
AN: Do you think there is anything you would like Columcille to change or that could be different?
DH: Well, keep things going where they’re going. I am going to try to be more positive. Not easy. I think what I’ve seen Columcille do is provide a very special service to people. And your help, you have helped us get as far as we’ve got to go because it is a community. Because where I was, I had very little access to anything. I would always say to my staff: Can I go out today, and they’ll go: there’s no staff, and when there’s no staff I couldn’t go out at all. If everyone’s sick and that there was no one to get me out and that’s fine but even then it was hard. It was like, a lot of people did that. A lot of people just are like, how could anyone live like that.
AN: We’re all out in the community now. You’ve got a nice flat. It’s been 9 years, it’s been a good time. What about the future? How do you see it? Do you have anything in mind?
DH: Just that I think a lot of the time, that I’ve seen Columcille do and push ahead for it and went for it and went a big way to challenge people to go at their own pace. Being together, a special journey, really nice that I’ve seen nice staff and they’re all very nice to me and they’re really kind.
Having the music group, which is what I do love. And I mean you guys have really helped me, really helped. I won’t forget that. Like I never ever imagined that day to now that I would live in the community and that I would move. When I was at the hospital I thought I was there for keeps. And it was scary. Very scary, coming out. I didn’t know what I was going to face. 9 years is a good time. Next year it will be 10 years. You push for things, and you see people going “this is what this gentleman is going to do”. Going to a gig at the castle and I was playing the drums in the ceilidh band at the time and I came down the stairs for something to eat and that and I said I am a drummer. And then Alistair said he wanted to hear the big drums. So, I sat in my seat, playing a few tunes and they went ‘stop there. You are getting paid for a gig at the castle’ and I am like ‘A gig at the castle? Are you joking?’ He went ‘no, I’m serious. For a wedding.’ I was absolutely gobsmacked. We were all sitting together and the gig itself was good. I got paid for what I did. 50 quid. It was nice. What I’ve heard over the years is people thinking, well, is this really right and you’re going this is what I am going to do and its best for you.
I think its just that over and above it’s been a real sense of kindness to you to people and you guys and your care to people here who haven’t been cared for before.
AN: Thanks very much David.
DH: Pleasure.
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