Cornish Guardian (Bodmin & East Cornwall)
Volunteers rack up an incredible three centuries of charity service
ACOMMITTEE in Newquay which raises money for children’s charity the NSPCC has been celebrating more than three centuries of volunteering.
The committee’s 11 members have, between them, been volunteering for a combined 325 years.
The extraordinary achievement has now been celebrated with the presentation of certificates to mark their long service.
The Newquay committee includes Sue Wrigley, 80, who has been raising money for the NSPCC for more than 63 years.
Sue, who lives in the town, said she first got involved with the charity as a teenager when she was asked to help her aunt, who volunteered in her home town of Rochdale.
She continued to raise money for the NSPCC and when she moved to Newquay in 1988 sought out the local fundraising committee to offer her support.
“I had friends here and one of my best friends knew that I’d always been interested in and involved with the NSPCC, and so she introduced me to the local committee when we moved here”, she said.
“I’ve always enjoyed being involved with the NSPCC and have made so many good friends. I can’t imagine not doing it.”
Speaking about her award, she said: “I didn’t even realise I’d been involved for that long until we were asked to write down when we started.
“I’m glad that I have been able to support the NSPCC for so long.”
The Newquay committee organises a number of fundraising events throughout the year including a Christmas tree display in the town’s Lighthouse Cinema, quiz nights and film nights, and a Sound Of Music singalong night it organised on March 14 is set to raise hundreds more once the total is tallied up.
Pat Harnett, 78, nominated leader of the committee, said members were delighted to have their long service recognised: “We all have our own strengths which help us to organise events and raise money.
“We’d love to have some more people getting involved – our youngest member is 60. We’re a great friendship group and like to go out for a meal together as well as organising our events.”
Pat said it was a shock to find the committee had clocked up so many combined years of volunteering and delightful to be given long service certificates by the NSPCC.
Alison Armer, community fundraising manager for the NSPCC in Cornwall, Devon and Somerset, said: “It was an absolute pleasure to be able to present these long service certificates to our fundraising committee in Newquay. They are a fantastic group and we are so grateful for their efforts in raising money for the NSPCC.
“The NSPCC is reliant on fundraising from volunteers like the Newquay committee to ensure that we can continue to provide services which will keep children safe and prevent child abuse. We would always be interested to hear from anyone who might like to get involved and become a volunteer.”
❝❝ I didn’t even realise I’d been involved for that long until we were asked to write down when we started. I’m glad that I’ve been able to support the NSPCC for so long
NSPCC volunteer Sue Wrigley