Charity stalwarts Jean Reader and Betty Weir, the wonder women behind Age Concern Irvine will be featured on a BBC documentary airing tonight, January 5. 

The community minded duo who celebrated the Broomlands and Bourtreehill Drop-in centre’s 44th birthday last year were interviewed by veteran broadcaster Kirsty Wark for the show, The Years That Changed Modern Scotland. 

The charity was set up by the two friends who had come from Glasgow to Irvine as part of the New Town development. 

Realising there was a need for somewhere in the community of the new housing scheme for older residents they set up their drop-in centre offering a lifeline to people with their activities, lunch clubs and outings. 

The documentary on at 10pm on BBC Scotland sees Kirsty Wark look at the changes in Scotland over the last 50 years. 

The first episode which features Jean and Betty will look at the 1970s and 80s and Glasgow overspill and the people who moved from the city and Lanarkshire to Irvine New Town’s housing developments in Broomlands and Bourtreehill. 

Jean and Betty who were neighbours when they first moved to Bourtreehill in 1976 will share their own experiences of living in the New Town and the people they have met during the years. 

You can catch it on BBC Scotland at 10.30pm tonight or catch up on BBC iPlayer.