By Bob Smyth

Former fireman Jimmy Rexter needed a lot of bottle to do his dangerous job, but that’s nothing compared to the bottles he’s seen since he retired.

When it comes to collecting empty Irn-Bru bottles, Jimmy (73), from Cumbernauld, is the best — Barr none.

For 25 years he’s gathered and returned hundreds of thousands of glass bottles to Barr’s, the Scottish soft drinks maker.

The deposit he’s paid for each bottle, currently 20p, goes to charity — and this month his fundraising reached a landmark £100,000.

He’s giving the £1000 that took him to the remarkable total to The Sunday Post Sick Children’s Appeal.

Jimmy said, “I’ve been doing this for a quarter of a century and I’ve kept a note of all the amounts I’ve given to charity. I realised I was about to hit the £100,000 mark and couldn’t think of a better cause to benefit from the latest £1000 raised.”

Jimmy, whose achievement was highlighted at a ceremony at Barr’s Cumbernauld HQ, wanted to keep active after he retired.

Soon an idea was bru-ing in his mind and he began his bottle quest.

He said, “When I left the fire service in Glasgow an elderly man advised me, ‘When you retire, you don’t put on your slippers but your shoes.’ That’s what I’ve tried to do.

“I travelled about in a Morris Minor and went round factories and workplaces asking the employees if I could have their bottles. 

“Then I’d take them to Barr’s. Back then you got eight pence a bottle so it was a lot harder to raise £1000. Over time it increased to 10p, 12p, 15p and now 20p.”

These days Jimmy runs a nippy Citroen and the fizzy drink company’s chairman, Robin Barr, personally arranges collection of his haul.

Jimmy said, “I store them in a garage kindly provided by Cumbernauld Housing Partnership. When I have 200 crates, each containing 12 bottles, the Barr’s lorry comes to take them away. 

It often takes me only a few weeks to collect that amount. 

“I’d say 90 per cent of them are Irn-Bru bottles. It’s by far the favourite from Barr’s range of drinks. I tend to stick to my immediate area but I’ve been as far as Livingston and Gourock. 

“What I do is also good for the environment because most of the bottles would probably end up in the rubbish if I didn’t take them.”

Jimmy doesn’t limit the number of charities he helps. Those that have benefited include Strathcarron Hospice, the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, Strathclyde 

Fire and Rescue’s Family Support Trust and the fund for firefighters’ families set up in New York after 9/11. He also backed The Sunday Post’s last appeal for the Children’s Hospice Association Scotland.

A cause close to his heart is DEBRA, the organisation which cares for “butterfly children” with epidermolysis bullosa, a genetic condition in which the lightest touch can cause blistering and open wounds on painfully sensitive skin. He explained, “When I saw those children it reminded me of kids with burnt skin I took out of fires.”

Robin Barr said he was amazed by Jimmy’s dedication. “Raising £100,000 is a truly phenomenal achievement,” said Mr Barr. “He’s an inspiring man and we wish him all the best in collecting the next £100,000!”

Jimmy laughed, “People tell me I should get a medal for my work and I tell them the only award I want is an MBE — More Barr’s Empties!”

IF YOU have a special reason for contributing to or raising funds for our appeal then we’d like to hear from you. 
It could be that you’d like to thank caring staff for the treatment they’ve provided in your hour of need. Or perhaps a relative spent time in one of Scotland’s children’s hospitals and the experience has left a lasting impression on your family’s life.
Whatever the reason, please let us know. 
We’d be delighted to share your experiences with our readers. And, who knows, it may inspire others to follow in your fund-raising footsteps.

Back to campaign main page