FOR the past four years the Rotary Clubs of Yelverton and Tavistock have provided the voluntary labour to organise and run the car parks at the popular annual Widecombe Fair, which attracts thousands of visitors to the tiny Dartmoor village.

The Widecombe Fair chairman, Gerald Smerdon, on behalf of the fair committee presented the Rotary clubs of Yelverton and Tavistock with cheques of £600 to each from the proceeds of funds raised at last year’s fair.

In presenting the cheques Mr Smerdon said: ‘I know how important it is, to the smooth running of the fair, in organising and running the car parks ensuring the public are welcomed and efficiently dealt with on their arrival. It was my responsibility for several years before taking on the position of fair steward and currently chairman.’

Yelverton club president Ross Dent and Tavistock club vice president Norrie Philip expressed thanks to the Widecombe Fair Committee for the opportunity to help it with its event which in turn is helping both clubs in raising funds for their charitable aims.

Tavistock Rotary Club’s £600 will be going towards this year’s president Catherine Bailey’s chosen charity: Plymouth and District Leukaemia Fund to provide chemotherapy pumps, they aim to fund five in two years.

The Yelverton Rotary Club £600 will be going towards a Rotary International initiative to provide multipacks of five water survival boxes. This is a similar idea to ‘ShelterBox’ in that they get sent to disaster areas and provide clean drinking water for a family of four for 12 months.

Pictured are Tavistock Rotary Club vice-president Norrie Philip, Yelverton Rotary Club president Ross Dent, Widecombe Fair chairman Gerald Smerdon and organiser of the annual car parking event Yelverton Rotarian Julian Greatrex, together with some of the Yelverton club Rotarians.