Meeting the people at Petroc’s
The Lord Lieutenant of Devon David Fursdon with former NDC chairman Jackie Flynn plus current chairman Sue Croft and members of Ilfracombe RNLI. Picture: Tony Gussin
The Lord Lieutenant of Devon David Fursdon has been meeting volunteers from a variety of places during a trip to North Devon
The Lord Lieutenant, RNLI crew, volunteers and guests at Ilfracombe Lifeboat Station. Picture: Tony Gussin
The Lord Lieutenant of Devon met up with some of North Devon’s unsung community heroes during a trip to Ilfracombe today (Wednesday).
David Fursdon and his wife Catriona visited Ilfracombe Lifeboat Station to meet members of the RNLI plus around two dozen volunteers from across the region.
The visit was at the invitation of former North Devon Council chairman Jacquie Flynn. The Lord Lieutenant is the Queen’s representative in Devon.
Earlier in the day the Fursdons visited Calvert Trust Exmoor and Lee Abbey.
The Lord Lieutenant of Devon David Fursdon greets Chulmleigh fundraiser Christine Smith. Picture: Tony Gussin
Mr Fursdon said there had been two reasons for the trip today: “Firstly to understand more about North Devon and the life up here, as part of my responsibility for all the people in Devon,” he said.
“Secondly, just to engage with volunteers and to thank the people that make communities work. It’s absolutely fantastic; the number of hours of voluntary work done by the people I have met is quite phenomenal.
“It’s also been a real opportunity to understand the lifeboat and to meet the crew, who are a real example of volunteering.”
Mrs Flynn added: “It’s been lovely to invite so many members of our community who do such good work but don’t often get spoken about – they are the unsung heroes of North Devon.
The Lord Lieutenant of Devon David Fursdon chats with Ilfracombe RNLI volunteers.
Picture: Tony Gussin
“It’s been a treat for them to meet him but also a treat for him to meet them as well.”
Mr Fursdon met several RNLI members from the boat and shore crew as well as fundraisers.
Others present included Duncan Withall from Northern Devon Foodbank, Tanya Hussell from the Filleigh Village Hall committee and avid fundraisers Sylvia Gibson and Christine Smith of Chulmleigh Old Fair.
Also in attendance were Brenda Rollingson of Rosebank Day Centre, Graham Ashelford and Philip Porter of Jigsaw and Nigel Cox and Nigel McCowen-Smith of the Abbey Gateway Club.
Anna Allsford from Combe Martin is 90 but still does a voluntary community hospital run for those who can’t get to appointments.
The Lord Lieutenant took the time to speak to everyone, which also included Combe Martin Museum staff Jan Jones, Olive Gallagher, Peggy Kelner and Pat Chesterton; Valerie and Alex McLeese plus Alessia Sheldon from Re:Store; Mary Wellstead and Derek Woodward from Ilfracombe Holy Trinity Graveyard Group and Hilary Burr of North Devon Voluntary Services.
PUBLISHED BY NORTH DEVON GAZETTE: 17:24 31 May 2017 | UPDATED: 17:25 31 May 2017 – Reporter: Tony Gussin