Tribute to fun-loving Archie raises £2,300 for charity

Oct 8 2008 by Cameron Hay, Paisley Daily Express

MUSIC lover Archie Paton may have lived his life in the West of Scotland but his heart lay in another ‘West’ – one where the buffalo roam and the deer and the antelope play.

And in an emotional night to mark his death following a brave battle against cancer, the avid Country and Western enthusiast was given a rousing tribute by other music fans.

More than 250 people packed into Johnstone Town Hall to listen to the sounds of two of Archie’s favourite acts – Carson City and Jolene and Barry.

The event raised more than £2,300 for Macmillan Cancer Care – a charity which offered financial help at the start of Archie’s illness.

His daughters Audrey McFarlane and Andrea Smith, together with his wife Nessie, organised the celebration of his life and are thrilled to have collected so much money for such a worthy cause.

Audrey, 37, told the Paisley Daily Express: “I think my dad would have been over the moon if he knew we held an event like this for him.

“He was the kind of man who would say he didn’t like people to make a fuss but, when it came down to it, he loved people to enjoy themselves.

“I am sure he was looking down on Johnstone Town Hall with a big smile on his face that evening.”

Archie was diagnosed with a form of cancer called Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 2004.

During his last few years, he was given stem cell treatment in an attempt to slow down the illness.

Doctors had told his family that, if the treatment was successful, Archie’s life could be extended by up to five years.

However, his body rejected the treatment and, within 15 months, his organs began shutting down.

Archie passed away in September last year.

Audrey said: “We were told towards the end of August that he only had a couple of days to live as his internal organs were shutting down.

“He was always a fighter and he battled on for a further two weeks and two days before he finally died.

“It was incredibly hard to watch, especially as he was such an active man all through his life. He loved dancing and was always in amongst the action.

“We were told early on in his illness that there was no cure but we lived in hope.

“And, when he went for a stem cell transplant at the Royal Infirmary in Glasgow, it was hoped he could live between five and 10 years longer but, in the end, he only got another 15 months.”

Widow Nessie said the family decided to tie in a tribute to Archie with raising funds for the cancer charity because of the help and support it had given them.

She explained: “We received a grant for £400 from Macmillan Cancer Care early on in Archie’s treatment.

“We didn’t know that Macmillan provided these services but were told by the nursing staff at Crosshouse Hospital. The money we received went towards paying for clothing, pyjamas and travelling expenses for me to visit him.”

Susan Selkirk, fundraising manager at Macmillan Cancer Care, has thanked the family for their support.

She said: “The hard work that Audrey and the family put into their Country and Western event is obvious.

“I am delighted to accept this donation of £2,300 towards Macmillan’s work. It will go a very long way to helping families and people affected by cancer.”