Charlie Smillie, an engineer with Livingston-based John Heaney Electrical (JHE), won £750 last year in staff bonuses and donated the entire amount to Cancer Research UK at Christmas time.

It was his charity of choice after wife Sheila was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023 while training to be a nurse at the University of the West of Scotland in Blantyre.

The Fauldhouse resident was surprised when boss Mark Heaney told him there was an official House of Commons letter addressed to him at the office recently, Livingston MP Gregor Poynton having written to Charlie to thank him for his “incredibly kind and selfless” act.

“It was really nice of Gregor Poynton to take the time to write and thank me,” said Charlie, who has been with the firm for 13 years.

“I never had the money in my pocket so it wasn’t a difficult decision to donate it to a charity close to my heart. It was a small gesture from myself but I really appreciated the acknowledgement – and it was nice to see it on official House of Commons paper!

“It is good recognition for the company, too. I’m not contributing millions of pounds but if my donation helps one person in some way, then great.”

Sheila successfully came through extensive radiotherapy and chemotherapy and is now back working at Lady Home Hospital in Lanark.

“The boss leads by example, does a lot for charity and was very supportive during my wife’s illness which we were very grateful for,” added Charlie.

“Sheila was as proud as anything when she read the letter and it has made us all feel really good.”

JHE managing director John Heaney said: “It was a terrific gesture from Charlie. I’m sure he could have benefited from the money at Christmas time but it says a lot about him that he wanted to give it all to charity.

“It was very thoughtful for Gregor Poynton to send him the letter and I know it means a lot to Charlie and Sheila.”