Pharmacy staff in Cardross who walked miles through blizzards and deep snow to open their shop are to have their valiant efforts recognised in the Scottish Parliament.

As the snowstorm blocked roads and halted public transport, the pharmacy staff pulled out all the stops to ensure medicines were available for customers.

This included locum pharmacist Morven Reid trudging EIGHT MILES from his home in Shandon to open up the shop as the blizzard intensified on Thursday morning.

As news of the staff’s efforts emerged, Jackie Baillie MSP said she had lodged a motion in the Scottish Parliament to recognise their dedication to patients.

The chain of events began on Thursday at 7.30am when Morven, 61, left his home to walk to Cardross, realising the roads were blocked and public transport was off.

He told the Advertiser this week: “I simply got wrapped up with warm clothes and left my house in Shandon at 7.30am to walk to the pharmacy.

“It was a complete blizzard – horrendous. The snow was about 15 to 18 inches deep.

“It was whipping around and causing big drifts but I walked on none-the-less. I only met one other person and the road was mainly deserted by traffic – just a trickle of 4x4s seemed to be making it through.

“It was freezing but as I walked I began to feel quite warm.”

Morven finally got to Cardross Pharmacy at 10.20am, almost three hours after he left his house, and set about getting prescriptions and medicines prepared for customers.

Colleague Patricia Paterson who lives in Cardross was able to trudge through the snow and together she and Morven kept the shop open until 5.20pm.

With the pharmacy van stuck in the snow, drivers Duncan Stirling and Richard Davies started delivering medicines around the village on foot.

Morven then had to walk back home that evening, but his wife, Susan was able to bring her car to Helensburgh where she picked him up.

On Friday morning, with the road still blocked and no public transport, Morven walked again from Helensburgh, this time accompanied by pharmacy staff members Kerry Anne O’Keefe and Susan Sneddon.

Kerry Anne said: “I wasn’t overly pleased that the road was blocked and transport was off but we wanted to keep the service going for our customers.”

With the road eventually cleared during Friday, the staff were able to get a lift back home from pharmacy owner Fraser MacPherson who had earlier been stranded by the snow.

Morven said: “It’s a standing joke – I have never been beaten by the weather and wasn’t going to be beaten this time.

“In this business you just don’t have the option of staying in, even if you are unwell and feeling grim – you have to make the effort to get in. Our customers depend on it. You can’t leave folk in the lurch.”

Once news of the valiant efforts made by the pharmacy staff got round the village, people were coming in with cakes and offers of tea and coffee.

Now, the never-say-die attitude of the staff is to be recognised in the Scottish Parliament.

Ms Baillie said: “I have heard many great stories of people going above and beyond the call of duty to help our local communities in the snow last week but this example has to be one of the best.

“The whole team at Cardross Pharmacy has done Helensburgh and Lomond proud and I have laid a motion in the Scottish Parliament to recognise their dedication to patients in Cardross.

“Times like this often bring out the best in our community and it is heartening to know that there are local people around who will do everything they can to ensure that we can still access key public services even in extreme conditions.”

Meanwhile, Tony Davey, convener of Cardross Community Council, has expressed the village’s thanks to the pharmacy staff.

He said: “The pharmacy staff, including the drivers who delivered medicines on foot, are to be congratulated for their dedication and commitment to their customers.

“I have been living here for 32 years and this is the worst snowfall I have experienced.”

Praise was also given by Rev Maggie McArthur, minister of Cardross Parish Church, who said she was in the chemist shop that day and had noted the drivers doing deliveries by foot.

She added: “This was a great community effort and all shops’ staff in the village are to be congratulated for their commitment.

“The farmers came out with their snowploughs to unblock the roads and side streets which was a great help.

“People were out with their shovels and spades and the home helps were doing a great job making their usual visits.

“It was wonderful to see the whole community pulling together in this way. People were trudging through the snow but still taking time to stop and talk to each other.”