MORE than 220 volunteers and supporters of Tavistock-based charity Operation Sunshine attended a celebration cream tea to mark the charity's huge achievements and show appreciation for charity leader, Felicity Derry-Thomas.

Operation Sunshine, which sends 40-foot containers of practical aid to parts of east Africa, held the cream tea to celebrate sending 50 containers in 10 years, and to express their affection and appreciation to Felicity for the work she has done for the charity over the last 29 years, and for her role as leader for the past 10 years.

The cream tea was held at Burns Hall in Chillaton and £1,700 was raised from the event.

Felicity said she was overwhelmed with the gratitude shown towards her.

She said: 'I had the most amazing time.

'I'm not leaving, I'm just standing down as leader.

'I ran it for 10 years and had the most wonderful time — there was a lot of fun and laughter.

'The 50 containers in 10 years is a huge achievement and it's everybody's achievement.

'We've got supporters all over the UK and even a small group of supporters in Spain. Ann Tregarthen is now going to take over as leader and she will be excellent at it.'

Among a number of tributes expressed were ones from West Devon and Torridge MP Geoffrey Cox and Forbes Watson, founder of the Literature in a Box charity which has worked closely with Operation Sunshine in sending educational supplies to Zambia.

Ann Tregarthen read out extracts from two of the charity's principal contacts in Zambia and Zimbabwe which expressed the deep gratitude of the people and projects in Zimbabwe and Zambia, who have been helped by the work of Felicity and her team.