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‘Scottish Safety Guy’ from Dunoon to sing to raise funds for Stroke Association
Ross Macdonald thrives on his career in security governance for the UK Government. He also supports his local community’s safety as a volunteer coastguard.
Yet just nine months ago, he had a stroke which left him with sensory difficulties, memory problems, communication problems, and severe fatigue. Ross was a 47-year-old father of three at the time, five months into tying the knot with his long-time partner, Angela, and says he first dismissed the signs as a severe food allergy. While eating a family dinner, his lips went numb, then his finger and thumb. A day later there was no change, so he decided to go to Cowal Community Hospital where he was diagnosed with a stroke. The following day, he was transferred to a specialist stroke unit at Inverclyde Royal Infirmary.
Ross felt relatively fortunate in the stroke ward compared to other patients, but the full effects began to take hold – things he had previously taken for granted became very difficult, and the fatigue was immense. On leaving hospital, the post stroke fatigue was “awful”. Ross’s physical abilities remain restricted to this day.
Fast forward to spring 2025, and Ross began to contemplate using his love of singing to raise money for the Stroke Association, which is Scotland’s leading stroke-specific charity. He says he saw a Stroke Association TV advertisement that showed a young person affected by stroke and he didn’t feel so alone.
Besides being a safety and security professional, Ross is a singer with ‘Dr Hip and the Blues Operation’ and the band will be joining him at a garden party fundraiser for the Stroke Association in The George Hotel in Inveraray on 29thJune.
Ross says: “My stroke was a terrible shock and adjustment, but I wasn’t going to let it beat me. My family has been through the wringer and my emotions are still raw. However, I’ve always been driven to contribute, and fundraising has given me a renewed sense of purpose. I really hope that people will support us and turn out for a fantastic event in a fantastic setting, for a very worthwhile cause.”
John Watson. Associate Director of the Stroke Association in Scotland, adds: “Stroke is one of the leading causes of adult disability in Scotland and it’s more common in young people than you might think. I’m delighted to hear that Ross is fundraising for us to bring back something he felt he had lost, and we wish him all the very best for a successful day”.
More on Ross
Through his ongoing work and studies, Ross is known by colleagues as the “Scottish Safety Guy”. While he was off work following his stroke, he became a certified member of the Institute of Occupational Health and Safety (IOSH) and a fellow of the Chartered Management Institute. He works in security governance for the UK Government. Most local people know him for volunteering with the Coastguard and singing with ‘Dr Hip and the Blues Operation’.
Ross’s Just Giving page is https://www.justgiving.com/page/drhip
About The George Hotel
Find out more about The George Hotel at https://www.thegeorgehotel.co.uk/
Others on the bill on 29th June are Miller-Crossan, a bluesy, soulful duo with a laid-back vibe; John Sampson, a multi-instrumentalist with a great sense of humour and The Charmed, a young Liverpool/Glasgow duo bringing country pop to the circuit.
The Garden Bar at The George Hotel was voted Best Outdoor Space 2024 by Scottish Licensed Trade News and promises wonderful food and drink, entertainment and spectacular views of Loch Fyne.
Call for volunteers in NHS Highland area
The Stroke Association is currently recruiting volunteers in the NHS Highland area to help expand its support for stroke survivors and their loved ones across Scotland.
Support provided by people who have had experience of stroke is a powerful way to help stoke survivors to adjust to the life-changing condition. So, the Stroke Association is particularly keen to hear from people who have had a stroke, or have supported someone who has, and want to use their experience to help others.
Anyone wishing to volunteer with the Stroke Association can contact the charity’s engagement team in Scotland at engagementteamscotland@stroke.org.uk.
To find out more about the Stroke Association’s work in Scotland, visit https://www.stroke.org.uk/scotland
