- HM Lord-Lieutenant of Devon, David Fursdon visited Devon Communities Together’s stand at the Devon County show (pictured).
- People invited to share favourite Devon memories and be a part of Devon’s Community Chronicles
Devon Communities Together is this year celebrating our diamond anniversary, marking 60 years of supporting communities in Devon. In our first in-person event since the pandemic began, we had a stand at the Devon County Show and were pleased to welcome HM Lord-Lieutenant of Devon, David Fursdon, who visited in his position as both President of Devon Communities Together and President Elect of the Devon County Show.
Mr Fursdon, who visited along with Devon County Show’s Chairman of the Council Mary Quicke MBE DL, met Devon Communities Together’s Chief Executive Nora Corkery who chatted to the party about the extensive work the charity had been doing during the pandemic to support Devon’s communities, which has included a communities helpline, online social groups for lonely older people during lockdown, small business support and much more.
“I’m delighted to have joined Devon Communities Together as President in such a special year for the charity,” said Mr Fursdon. “Things have certainly changed in Devon over the past 60 years but the charity has continually evolved to meet the changing needs of Devon’s communities. I know the team has worked tremendously hard over the past year to help people all over Devon through lockdown, and as Devon gradually ‘unlocks’ it’s wonderful to see them start getting out and about, engaging with communities and helping Devon to rebuild.”
“It was fantastic to welcome our new president to our stand. We value the support that he is showing for our work supporting rural communities across Devon,” added Nora Corkery, Devon Communities Together’s Chief Executive. “We were pleased to be able to talk to him about our work and share with him the positive impact that our support has been having on communities throughout the pandemic.
“We were also pleased that several people sought out our stand to come and thank us for the work we’ve been doing throughout lockdown, especially those that had used our dedicated Covid-19 helpline. We met members of community groups and committee members of village halls who wanted to tell us how we had helped them since the start of the pandemic and it was lovely to hear their positive stories.”
As well as greeting special visitors, the Devon Communities Together team spent lots of time at the Devon County Show collecting people’s favourite Devon memories from the past 60 years, which will be compiled into Devon’s ‘Community Chronicles’ later this year – just one of the charity’s initiatives designed to celebrate its 60th anniversary.
“It was lovely to hear such diverse memories,” continued Nora, “We had everything from family picnics, to the visit of the Beatles, the first rain after a drought, meeting future partners and many more! There’s still lots of time for people to get involved (anonymously if you wish) and I’d encourage anyone who has a special memory from the past 60 years to share it via our online link. Be a part of our Community Chronicles and help us celebrate the past six decades in this wonderful county!”
To share your favourite Devon memory, visit: www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/communitychronicles or search ‘Devon Community Chronicles’.
PHOTO CAPTION: (l-r) Andy Gray; Tom Langdon-Davies; HM Lord-Lieutenant of Devon, David Fursdon, President, Devon Communities Together; Nora Corkery Chief Executive, Devon Communities Together; Mary Quicke, MBE DL