A VOLUNTEER for Okehampton and District Community Transport Group was among those honoured at the 16th Community Transport Awards held by Devon County Council.

Andrew Reid picked up a volunteer award at the event. The ceremony, which is sponsored by GM Coachwork who specialise in wheelchair access vehicles and vehicle adaptations, recognises outstanding contributions within the community transport sector.

Andrew was nominated for the award by transport group co-ordinator Sue Wonnacott. She said: 'Andrew started driving for us by offering a couple of days a week, which quickly resulted in him becoming a popular member of our team, with clients requesting him for their next journey.

'We did inundate him with requests, as he was so kind and rarely refused whichever job we asked him to do, whether early morning, late night or weekend.

'Although he also volunteers at a local community shop, he always tries to fit around our requests and often drives seven days a week, particularly if a client has requested that he takes them to visit a sick partner.

'Andrew is very caring and certainly puts the clients at ease. He took a client who was very quiet, with early dementia and usually sat in the car silent for the whole journey. Andrew put on some music which the client obviously enjoyed. Then, on the following journey, he chose some music that he thought he would appreciate and the client started to sing!'

Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Highway Management, said: 'Our congratulations and thanks go to the winners and everyone involved with community transport in Devon, who make it the successful service that it is. This annual award ceremony is a celebration of Community Transport and it illustrates the positive work within our communities.

'As always, we received lots of nominations and the dedication and commitment shown across Devon demonstrates what an important and highly valued service this is.'

All nominations were considered by a judging panel consisting of Devon County Councillor Stuart Hughes, Elaine Cook, Chief Executive of Devon Communities Together, and Alison Holder, Patient Advice and Service Liaison (PALS) Manager for N.E.W. Devon Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).