A community scheme which sees volunteers drive vulnerable and isolated people to doctors’ appointments, opticians and chiropodists in the villages surrounding Bassingbourn, is celebrating its 30th anniversary.
The Heron Self Help Scheme, which offers door-to-door transport with a friendly escort at a reasonable price, was warmly welcomed by patients and families when it started up on April 1, 1986.
Volunteers have offered help continuously since then, and three of the co-ordinator drivers have been involved with Heron from the outset – Hilary Sharpe, Christine Furmston and Jennifer Bell – who are pictured (above) with their colleagues at a celebratory lunch held in the Pig and Abbot, Abington Pigotts.
The name Heron is derived from the Bassingbourn connection, where the Heron is a local symbol. The Heron scheme treasurer, Richard Place, estimates that 28 volunteers are driving locally and they each average 483 miles a year.
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