THE rural lanes of the West Devon countryside around the village of Buckland Monachorum are a little greener and definitely much cleaner — thanks to the efforts of a good-natured pensioner.
Dennis Fairchild, aged 73, and who lives in Modyford Walk in Buckland Monachorum, picks up litter — bottles, beer cans, crisp packets and most things non bio-gradeable — whenever he goes on his daily walk.
He began his long walks at the start of the year and since then has collected bags of rubbish jettisoned by those who are not so environmentally conscious.
A modest Dennis said: 'I do it for my health really. My doctor advised me to take some exercise. We have some beautiful countryside around here and I started walking along the lanes. So I thought while I was there I might as well do something useful! It keeps me active and I like to think of it as my contribution. To tell the truth I find it very therapeutic.'
Dennis, now retired, was a former caretaker of St Andrew's School while his wife, Shirley, is the current caretaker of the village hall,
A former soldier, Dennis served more than ten years in the Logistics Regiment of the Royal Army Ordinance Corps. HIs son, Andrew, 28, has served in Iraq with the Royal Army Medical Corps and has just graduated with a Queen Alexandra's Army Nursing diploma.
Linda Downing, a fellow Buckland resident, praised Dennis for his public spirit.
She told the Times: 'Dennis helps to keep the lanes as they should be — free from litter.
'He's putting the pride back in Devon and I think that every village in the county could do with someone like Dennis Fairchild.'