HORRABRIDGE photojournalist Ian Robinson celebrated his 60th birthday recently with a 3,500 mile aid trip to Bosnia, Herzegovina.

LandRover, also 60 this year, loaned a new MK2 Freelander to make the run, while Tavistock Acoustic Café founder and actor Jeff Sleeman, accompanied Ian as co-driver and linguist.

In an area still recovering from the ethnic conflict of the 90s, Ian delivered donated food, vegetable seeds and clothing to elderly villagers. He also delivered protective winter topcoats to a team of 14 local mine-clearance personnel, along with a much-needed chainsaw to assist with their work in forests, plus a second chainsaw for communal use by villagers cutting winter fuel.

No stranger to Bosnia, in 2002/2003, Ian raised money to provide the de-miners with a LandRover and three cows in calf for villagers rebuilding their lives around war-torn dwellings.

Ian said: 'After five years, the cows are still alive and well, although our LandRover is currently laid up awaiting a replacement engine. Tavistock's Mark Kelly, however, provided parts for another of the de-miners' working LandRovers.'

In a day outside Morrison's, Tavistock shoppers donated enough food to fill three trolleys, while winter clothing, new and used, came from a variety of sources, locally and nationally. Cash to fuel the drive was donated by Tavistock businesses and individuals.

'We packed every available corner of the Freelander to the roof, including rice, oats, tinned fish and pasta in the spare-wheel well and under the seats, barely leaving room for our tent and sleeping bags.'

Ian said that the de-miners were 'thrilled' when he presented them with their winter snow trousers, thermal vests and high-visibility yellow winter topcoats.

'As their guests, we witnessed a controlled detonation of anti-tank mines, rockets and grenades before, in protective Kelvar suits, touring a mine-infested forest recreation area where ingenious parachute mines are still a hazard to townsfolk — 16 people have died in Bosnia this year in ordnance-related incidents.'

When distributing 21 food packages to elderly smallholders along the valley surrounding Livno, Ian said it was 'moving' when he saw elderly faces light up as he emptied the vehicle in front of remote, roofless, bullet-holed farm buildings.

He said: 'There were moving moments — the little old deaf mute who smiled his toothless gratitude for a new fleece and winter hat, and the four old ladies somewhat bewildered at our gleaming new car — one of them cried when Jeff pressed Euros into her hand, while another sought to repay us with a few walnuts from her apron.

'We returned safely with a lot of memories, and a few donated bottles of Rakia, the local hooch.

'Like anywhere, war scars don't heal overnight, but there is perceived progress and the people are warm to you and getting on with life.

'We detoured to see the newly rebuilt bridge at Mostar, destroyed in the conflict, where you can't miss the packed cemetery of graves all marked 1993. Hampered by politics, life is slowly moving forward for Bosnia, though I suspect I'll take another load out there before too long.'

Ian expressed thanks to everyone who donated or sponsored his venture, as he said it was a 'huge success'.