Tom Gilzean is a charity fundraiser and you will all have spotted him on the High Street or one of his other favourite spots outside Jenners, sitting on his electric scooter shaking his collection tin.
He is 96 years old, but until recently he was out in all weathers raising money.
Councillor Steve Cardownie mentioned him at the Council meeting this morning, as Tom recently had a fairly serious fall at home. He is now in hospital and Councillor Cardownie wanted the Lord Provost and the Council Leader to know about this and perhaps go and visit him.
The Lord Provost will indeed go to see Tom and so if you have a Get Well Soon card then you may drop it off at the Reception at the City Chambers for the Lord Provost to take with him on his visit.
The Lord Provost the Rt Hon Donald Wilson said: “We are all wishing Tom well and hoping he has a speedy recovery. The Royal Mile is a much quieter place when he’s not out there shaking his tin raising thousands for charity!
“He is such a loved character and I’m sure cards and gifts from all over the city would bring a smile to his face. If you would like to send your well wishes – and I urge you to do so – I’d ask you to drop them off at the City Chambers. I’ll hand deliver them to Tom.”
Tom was a recipient of The Edinburgh Award in March 2015, and you will see his handprints in the quadrangle at the City Chambers. He is also a Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur, an honour bestowed upon him earlier this year. He also received the British Empire Medal in 2013.
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