The Govan Chairman Honours St Margaret

We're delighted to have been given custody of a magnificent hand-carved chair, made in honour of St Margaret, our patron saint.

The chair was made by John McLaughlin MBE from Govan, who’s locally known as ‘The Govan Chairman’.

Mr McLaughlin presented the unique chair to our Bishop President, Joseph Toal and Director, Alistair Dutton at a SCIAF Remembrance Mass on Thursday 10th November. Bishop Brian McGee of Argyll and the Isles was also in attendance.

The impressive 5ft 9in chair, made from recycled elm wood took just one month to make. It will be with us for one year and was warmly welcomed by our staff, volunteers and those attending the Mass.

The chair has beautiful symbolic carvings of thistles and marguerite flowers and also includes a ship to represent the one wrecked in a violent storm which brought St Margaret to Scotland.

Mr McLaughlin received an MBE for his ‘services to industry and the community in Renfrewshire’ on 26th November, 1996, and attended Buckingham Palace with a wooden top hat, which he also skilfully hand – carved.

We'd like to thank John for entrusting his great work to us and we encourage people who are passing to pop into our office and take a look for themselves.