A VOLUNTEER churchwarden in Lydford has retired after 28 years of service.

Barbara Weeks began volunteering at Lydford’s St Petroc’s Church in 1988 and said she has made some wonderful memories and met lots of nice people.

She said: ‘I have been very fortunate – 28 years is a lovely lot of time!

‘I had a wonderful partnership with the other churchwarden so we did a lot of the work together – he did the manly jobs and I did the others!

‘It has been very interesting — over the years people in the parish have moved around a lot so I have been able to get to know one group and then another group of people. I like talking to people so I have really enjoyed that part of the job.

‘When we haven’t had a vicar I have been able to go around in the parish and help people with organising things like weddings, funerals and christenings. It was a huge privilege to get to know people and help them in times of joy and sorrow – that is what I shall really miss but I’m not going anywhere so I will still see people!

‘I am also a WI president, which is a similar role, in that I get to know people and give support, so I will still get to do what I love — it’s just that the churchwarden hat is being hung on the peg.’

Barbara said a lot of things have changed during her 28 years volunteering.

She added: ‘I think over the years churchwardens have been given far more responsibility because the vicars now have more parishes and they do their best to get around to all of them, so in the meantime the churchwarden keeps an eye out to help.

‘When I first started the vicar had four parishes to look after. Now the vicar looks after parishes which are miles apart so they spend more time travelling. Things used to be much easier but we just developed a new way of coping.

‘We recently had a new vicar, Adrian Brook. He is younger and suits the parish — I thought I had better retire while things are going well and he has promised me he won’t leave!’

Barbara said she had been quite overwhelmed by all the gifts and kind wishes she received when she retired at St Petroc’s Church AGM on February 23.

‘A lovely lady from the parish asked if she could cook me a meal on my retirement so I had a very nice meal and hamper. I went to church the next day and there were a lot more people than usual — I thought ‘what is going on?’. Then I was called to the front of the church and given lots of gifts. I was really overwhelmed and I still am!

‘I would like to thank everyone, obviously for their amazing generosity but also for being such good friends. It has been like a film — like Four Weddings and a Funeral! I have been there for people of the parish and they are there for me – I feel very blessed. I was a job and it has been a privilege.’

Michael Crocker, Barbara’s fellow churchwarden, has volunteered at the Lydford church for 26 years.

Michael said: ‘Barbara has been an excellent churchwarden to work with. Over the 28 years she has put 100 per cent commitment into Lydford Church and its people; christenings, weddings and funerals — making sure they all run as smoothly as possible. She has made sure the fabric of Lydford Church is kept in good order.

‘Barbara is very good at organising people and delegating jobs to them. She is also very business- like in the approach to the record keeping which has to be kept.

‘The impact she has made to Lydford Church is to the smooth running of all the fundraising events held throughout the years. Her churchwarden duties will be greatly missed. It is like Lydford Church loosing its right arm!’