South Somerset Homes tenant retires after 21 years voluntary work for Meals on Wheels Service
17 May 2004

Charles Newland (South Somerset Homes tenant and retired WRVS volunteer)

South Somerset Homes tenant, Charles Newland has retired from his voluntary work for the Meals on Wheels Service after twenty-one years. Charles who is 83 years old has worked for the Meals on Wheels Service since 1983.

For the past fourteen years Charles has delivered meals in the South Somerset area on average 4 times each week, including weekends. He has delivered in total 12,000 meals and driven over 15,000 miles.

Penny Mitchell, the WRVS District Food Manager for South Somerset said, “Charles has always been a pleasure to work with and always agreed to help, and never let us down, even in the worst of weather.”

She added “Volunteers like Charles are at the very heart of the Meals on Wheels Service and we were very sorry when Charles decided to retire. The WRVS is indebted to him and I am sure all our clients would echo these sentiments.”

The WRVS volunteers work 7 days a week and 365 days a year. In the Yeovil District alone, 80 meals a day are collected from the local community and over 60,000 meals are distributed a year across South Somerset.

(From left to right) Sallie McCoy (WRVS Yeovil District organiser and South Somerset Homes Area South Panel Chairman), Penny Mitchell (WRVS District Food Manager for South Somerset), Ed Hillier (WRVS member), Charles Newland (South Somerset Homes tenant and retired WRVS volunteer), David Thomas (WRVS member)