RESIDENTS of the communities in the Calstock parish who volunteered their time to help others during the covid pandemic have been thanked with a special tea party.

Around 50 people came forward when a plea was put out by Calstock Parish Council for volunteers at the beginning of the first lockdown and many firm friendships have been made as a result and ongoing support given.

Volunteers helped with shopping, visits to medical appointments and vaccinations, picking up prescriptions, making facemasks and just providing a listening ear and someone to talk on the phone when visits in person were difficult because of restrictions.

Speaking at the tea party deputy parish clerk of Calstock Clare Bullimore who co-ordinated the volunteer effort said: ‘We were overwhelmed with offers of help and we never had to say no to anybody.

‘People were involved in sorts of things from walking dogs to gardening and taking people to medical appointments. They made sure everyone had enough food and any spare food parcels were given to the foodbank.

‘I would like to thank everyody for all their help, It was a delighful scheme to be involved with.’

Her comments were reiterated by Calstock Parish Council chairman Jim Wakem who said that residents living in the parish were very appreciative of the efforts of the volunteers.

Keen seamstress Barbara Hathaway made around 100 facemasks from leftover scraps of material she had in her stash. She said: ‘I did some research on the best way to make a facemask, I made about 20 for the volunteers who were going out shopping and before long I was asked to make more.

‘I was posting them through the shop letter box and leaving them in the butchers shop so people could pick them up. Now people are asking me for new ones as their original ones have wore out.

‘I enjoyed making them as it gave me something to do and it was nice to be helping the community.’

Other volunteers included Lindsey Sharp, Hilary Fairhurst, Jean Day and husband and wife team Chris and Chris Sharpe who shopped for others and took people to hospital appointments

Lindsay said there was a good sense of community spirit through the lockdowns and that had continued.

‘It was much stronger at the beginning of lockdown but the communities in this area do look after each other anyway,’ she said.

Jayne Roycroft from Cornwall Volunteers also attended the tea party to talk about other volunteering opportunities available now the local covid support effort was being wound up.

There were social prescribers who were linked with medical surgeries and helped people who were suffering from medical isolation, mental health issues and bereavement; the befriending service and stroke befriending service; end of life support, Vaxi Taxis scheme and the Harrowbarrow Hill Ponies.

She said more volunteers were being sought from the Tamar Valley area and she was keen to let people who might benefit from those services know about them. Information is expected to be circulated via village newsletters, websites and the Tamar Valley Times.