Devon County Council

From Adrian Lane, Exeter 383262, June 16, 2008

The winners of Devon County Council's Community Transport Volunteer Awards and the Volunteer of the Year have been honoured at a civic reception.

The Volunteer of the Year is Les Ellis for his service to Culm Voluntary Car Scheme.

This award is given to the person whom the judges consider to have made an outstanding contribution to voluntary and community transport.

Presenting the award, the Vice Chairman of Devon County Council, Councillor Douglas Hull, said: "Choosing just one person is no easy task. However, the judges decided that one person had shown great dedication and commitment to helping others in the community.

"During a long period driving for a voluntary car scheme Les has also been involved in running a club for people with arthritis, been chair of the local school governors and driven for meals on wheels.

"He has also been treasurer, helped to run a lunch club and is an active member of the local church. This includes helping in the office, taking part in the church car rota and, in the past, he has been on the building sub-committee. Besides all these voluntary tasks he has been a very willing and helpful driver for the car scheme."

The Community Transport Awards are designed to recognise the achievements of the unsung heroes and heroines who have made significant, individual contributions to community transport in their areas.

The 12 successful nominees, together with those who nominated them and a guest, were invited to the reception by the Chairman of the County Council to celebrate the important and valuable work carried out by the army of community transport volunteers across the county.

The award winners were:

Peter Bromell - Chairman of Tedburn Outreach Charity - length of service: 12 years

Nominated by: Ian Gass

"Peter became the chairman of the outreach charity eight years ago, stepping into the breach when the charity was in danger of collapse. He is also one of the founder members and is a volunteer driver for the charity, mostly taking people to medical appointments.

"Peter is well-known and appreciated in Tedburn and Pathfinder Village and is deeply involved in the community, including organising coach trips and holidays for the elderly, the village hall committee, the parish council and Teignbridge District Council."

Lydia Darbyshire - Secretary/Transport Organiser for Newton Abbot District Arthritis Care - length of service: 25 years

Nominated by: Audrey Jenkins

"Lydia has been working in the voluntary field, particularly for the Newton Abbot branch of Arthritis Care, since 1980 when she undertook voluntary driving for the group. She drove members, not only to regular meetings, but also on outings and on other social occasions.

"In the early '80s Lydia became the organiser, a position she holds to this day. (She also became treasurer, then secretary - another post that she holds to this day.) She continues to organise and to drive and she is now a trustee of the Newton Abbot Community Transport Association.

"Lydia is a popular person; she has made an outstanding contribution to voluntary transport over some 25 years and I should very much like to nominate her excellent work to be recognised."

Barbara Davies - driver for Ivybridge Voluntary Cars - length of service: 4 years

Nominated by: Joan Bounds and David Simpson

Joan Bounds said:

"Barbara is so helpful and nothing is too much trouble for her. When going to the doctors or hospital she always makes sure you get to the right department. She often has to wait a long time until we finish our appointment but she says she doesn't mind."

David Simpson said:

"Barbara is so helpful with all the passengers she carries. When people ring to book a car many of them ask if Barbara is available to take them to their destination. She is very caring and gives them a helping hand into the buildings. Nothing is too much trouble for her. She will always try to help out even when we ring at the last minute."

Les Ellis - driver for Culm Voluntary Car Scheme - length of service: 16 years

Nominated by: Brian Hancock

"Les is our longest serving driver having driven for us for 15 years. He is involved with a lot of other voluntary work but does as much driving as possible and is always very willing and obliging by even altering personal arrangements to meet our requests. He is happy with short notice drives to cover for sickness and holidays and is popular with passengers.

"He is a great asset and I feel deserves an award for his very long service, number of journeys undertaken and for his pleasant, helpful and courteous manner, especially considering all his other voluntary tasks."

Brian Haigh - driver for Dartmouth Caring - length of service: 2.5 years

Nominated by: Colleagues at Dartmouth Caring

"Brian has worked for us since 2006 averaging 10 trips per month. Nothing is too much trouble, often picking up clients at 6.30am and collecting them in the evening, giving up his own precious time. He also works over bank holidays and Christmas periods to ensure continuity of treatment for cancer patients.

"Brian is always aware of his clients' needs, accompanying them into hospitals/clinics and staying with them if necessary. He manages to do all this and complete CAB training.

"He has a polite, cheerful and sensitive nature and is a great asset to Dartmouth Caring and its clients."

Mary Haydon - driver for Friends of Heavitree Health Centre - length of service: several years

Nominated by: Jennifer Loft

"I have no hesitation in proposing Mary Haydon as she is a volunteer driver, committee member and fundraiser for the Friends of Heavitree Health Centre. She is always cheerful and willing to help, at sometimes very short notice, with a request for transport.

"She regularly does the shopping for two patients, one she takes and leaves in the caf while she fills the trolley! For the other patient she sometimes collects the shopping list the previous night if she is doing another transport drive. Some of our patients ask for her by name. She also finds time to help other clubs!"

Roger Heffer - Chairman of Torridge Community Transport Association - length of service: 8 years

Nominated by: Duncan Goodman

"Roger has been a committee member, and latterly chairman and director, with TCTA from the early days.

"Torridge CTA has had its share of ups and downs, and Roger's continuity, stabilising influence, tenacity, skills and experience, along with his belief in the organisation and of the importance of our services, has been a major influence on the survival and subsequent success of the organisation.

"With Roger at the helm, TCTA is now a stable ship. Finances are on an even keel, funding is a priority, the organisation is celebrating its 10^th anniversary, and operates over 85 volunteer drivers."

Victor Holloway - treasurer/driver for Diptford Car Scheme - length of service: 28 years

Nominated by: Roger Burton

"For 28 years Vic Holloway has served Diptford as a volunteer car driver. In the early years the pressure was very much greater and his commitment was unfailing. He only relinquished driving some two years ago.

"From the inception of the car scheme in Diptford until 2005 he held the post of Hon. Treasurer. Such significant length of service, I feel, merits the recognition by the County Council, hence this unanimous nomination."

Hylda Langley - driver, committee member for Friends of Woodbury Surgery - length of service: 13 years

Nominated by: Nita Goffron

"We would like to nominate Hylda Langley for an award this year. She joined the "Friends" shortly after its inception and has given at least 13 years of service to our organisation. Her eagerness to help others, willingness as a committee member and organisation of petty cash funds has helped the co-ordinator enormously over the years.

"Hylda has recently retired from service. I feel that her nomination would be a fitting vote of thanks for all her hard work and dedication over the last 13 years."

Derek Livsey - driver and deputy co-ordinator for Supporters of Teign Estuary Patients - Length of service: 9-and-a-half years

Nominated by: Roy Pepper

"Derek Livsey joined STEPS in May 1998 after serving for 13 years as a Samaritan. His duties with STEPs include assisting the elderly with DIY work, shopping and driving patients to hospital, etc. He also acted as deputy co-ordinator for our group.

"At all times Derek has been cheerful, caring and an inspiration to others. His enthusiasm for driving patients to hospital, etc meant he was regularly our busiest driver. On one month last year, he managed 60 trips."

Doreen Perrott - part time bookings clerk for the Blackdown Support Group - length of service: 10 years

Nominated by: Brian Simpson

"The Blackdown Support Group employs booking clerks for one and a half hours each morning, extracting messages from the voicemail and taking incoming calls from clients. Mainly, these are requests for transport, but not always, and the clerks have to be fully aware of what other services the group provides.

"The group has three or four clerks sharing this task throughout the week and Doreen has been one of those clerks for about ten years. But there is one outstanding difference between Doreen and her colleagues - they all get paid but Doreen does it for nothing! She is invariably cheerful, obliging, helpful, considerate and never, ever gloomy - the perfect employee!"

Bob Winter - driver for Kingscare League of Friends - length of service: nearly 4 years

Nominated by: Averil Corrick and Jayne Steer

Averil Corrick said:

"I would like to nominate Bob Winter. Without Bob's care and help picking me up for my physiotherapy class, I would not be able to attend this very valuable class. He is very kind and helpful, and very sympathetic to our needs.

"He is a very jolly person and nothing is too much trouble for him. He is very deserving of this award."

Jayne Steer said:

"I would like to nominate Mr Winter for an award as a volunteer driver. I feel he deserves recognition for his hard work. He takes me to my physiotherapy class.

"He has a very warm personality and is always jolly. He always goes that little but further to help me on and off the bus. He is always more than willing to wait for me if I am running late due to my disability. He is very deserving of this award."

Note to Editors:

Photos of the winners receiving their awards are available on request.

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