A FORMER Inverclyde provost has taken a new front seat role - as a charity's volunteer driver.

Ciano Rebecchi - the district's longest serving councillor with 34 years under his belt prior to retirement - devotes time to transporting physically disabled people and those with learning difficulties.

Ciano is a driver with Inverclyde Voluntary Council of Social Services and is behind the wheel of a minibus up to five-days-a-week.

But his links with volunteering go back more than two decades.

Ciano said: "I started driving on Sundays to take the Greenock Otters [swimming club for the disabled] to training or events, if other drivers were off.

"I used to step in when the group were short and needed drivers and I went through all the training.

"But I had to stop when I became Provost in 2004.

"I was also involved with Glenburn School."

Greenock Telegraph:

Ciano added: "I decided not to go for re-election and they were short of drivers.

"I leave the house at 7.30am and pick up the escorts before collecting the children and then doing the drop-off run after school.

"I take around ten children to Craigmarloch. I love listening to the kids, helping them get to school, and if they have wee problems, you can talk to them.

"You build up a relationship with them. One of the older pupils sits in the front and he knows every single stop you make on the run."

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Ciano first became a councillor in 1988 and continued to serve for more than three decades, becoming the longest continuous serving councillor in the district.

He said: "I am very proud of my service. I was born and bred in Greenock and I never had any any ambition like that. I always had ambitions to help people."

He told how Covid and and family gave him cause to pause and think about stepping down, adding: "I used to like the atmosphere in the [council] chamber and a lot of staff couldn't work from home.

"I missed the chamber, that's what made my mind up. I really miss the staff, they could call me and vice versa. It was a mutual respect for each other."

Ciano says his voluntary work is a way to give back to the community.

He said: "It is a way of saying 'thank you' and to help kids get the best out of life with the problems they have.

"You know how difficult it is for some of the kids and their parents, and everyone needs some help sometime.

"Inverclyde is a very compassionate place."

Ciano is urging others to spare a few hours to volunteer and make a difference in their community.

He said: "Even if people could spare a morning or an afternoon.

"It's a voluntary organisation and the guys up there are a smashing bunch."

*If you would like to volunteer, call Andy on 07504924036 or 719939