A TAVISTOCK man was recognised for his contribution to Tavistock Area Support Services (TASS) at the Devon Community Transport Awards last week.

Mike Northmoor was one of three people presented with a volunteer car driver award.

A record number of 80 nominations were received for this year’s awards and the winners were announced at a special ceremony at County Hall in Exeter.

Mike was proposed by Lorna Garrod who said Mike was like ‘a ray of sunshine — matching his yellow car.’

‘I am a pensioner living in a village in rural Devon with only two local buses a week to Tavistock. I have had many appointments over the past five years at Derriford.

‘I am participating in a 10 year clinical trial which involves many visits and tests, sometimes two in a day. Mike makes it so easy no matter how long they take, even offering to call into a shop if needed.

‘Mike knows my situation and listens to my chattering regards family, house problems, hopes and fears. He can be the only person I have a conversation with in over a week at times. He is the same with other passengers I sometimes meet when we share a lift. I know he drives the bus for outings and trips for TASS and hopes one day to be able to join the team.

‘I am in remission and now free from taking medication, Mike has made my treatment bearable as the other drivers have. Bless them all.’

The awards are now in their 17th year and aim to recognise outstanding contributions to community transport in Devon.

Gillian Hipkins, from the Friends of Underhill Surgery Car Scheme in Lympstone was named community transport volunteer of the year and Ilfracombe and District Community Transport Association, received the group award for best contribution to the local community.

Cllr Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council cabinet member for Highway Management, said: ‘Congratulations to all of our winners but also to everyone involved with community transport in Devon. They all deserve recognition for the commitment and dedication they show in their local communities.

‘The Devon Community Transport Awards have become a well established annual event and it’s marvellous to see, even after so many years, that the awards have attracted a record number of nominations. It demonstrates how highly valued community transport is here in Devon and the vital role it plays.’

Presenting the awards Devon County Council chairman Cllr Andrew Moulding said the awards were for exceptional service given to help others.’

All nominations were considered by a judging panel consisting of Devon County Council leader John Hart, Elaine Cook, chief executive of Devon Communities Together and Alison Holder, senior manager of the Patient Advice and Liaison Service.

Local community transport services are also to be recognised as part of community transport awareness week which will be held from June 4-11.

In Tavistock, services like Tavistock Area Support Services (TASS), Tavistock Country Bus and Tavistock Ring and Ride, offer invaluable transport for many people, especially those living in rural communities, that may live miles from the nearest bus route, are unable to afford taxi fares or are physically unable to use to public transport services provided.

The Tavistock Country Bus is a charitable organisation run entirely by volunteers. The ethos of the bus is to go where no commercial bus operator goes.

It is able to travel to remote and isolated areas of Devon and Cornwall provide a community bus service which can be used by everyone. Concessionary bus passes are accepted on their services.

TASS provide transport to health appointments for people who do not qualify for patient transport. They also offer transport to older and disabled groups, access to TASS drop-ins in villages around Tavistock, and other groups including Physically Challenged, Tavistock Friendship Group, Stroke Club and Parkinson’s UK.

It also puts on a large number of trips and outings for older and disabled people throughout the year.

At a community transport roadshow in Bedford Square, Tavistock on June 8, between 10am and 3pm , TASS will be represented as well as Tavistock Country Bus, Tavistock Ring and Ride and Transport for Your Community.