Sun. Oct 1st, 2023

Service Group

The Service Group was created many years ago by some younger members of the craft. The aim of the group was to provide services such as house decorating or gardening to older members who may not be able to tackle these activities alone.

The Group evolved into organising an outing to the King’s Theatre pantomime in early January each year and a summer day trip, normally on the third Saturday of August. This facility, originally provided only to the beneficiaries of the Craft, is now extended by the Hammermen Service Group to all fourteen Crafts and to Trades House pensioners.

This means approximately 150 pensioners and their friends are treated to tea in a Glasgow hotel and then transported by other members to the King’s Theatre for an evening of entertainment complete with chocolates and ice creams each year. A similar number will generally depart Glasgow for well-known resort hotels such as the Old Course in St Andrews, Crieff Hydro, The Marine Hotel in North Berwick, Gleneagles or Turnberry to name but a few. They are then treated to lunch, afternoon tea and have some time to relax before returning to Glasgow in the late afternoon. The benefits of the outings are extended to a number of ‘friends’ of the Craft, whether they are members or widows of members who may not require financial assistance, but would benefit from the social exchange of the outing.