89 year old volunteer hangs up his shears
Date Published: 07/05/2009
One of Britain’s oldest volunteers has retired – after a quarter of a century of service to the Lee Valley Regional Park.
Staff and volunteers from the Regional Park gathered on Thursday to say a big thank-you to 89 year old Stan Willis from Waltham Abbey. Over the years he has cleared out ditches, planted and cut back trees, and carried out countless other conservation tasks. He has on a number of occasions received awards for his efforts, including nationwide recognition for his services to volunteering in 2005.
Stan, started voluntary work in the Park after talking to a ranger on the annual walk from Bow to Ware in 1985, when he was a sprightly 65 years old. He continued to undertake the annual 26 mile walks well into his 70s.
Stan said: “I really have enjoyed helping out in the Lee Valley Regional Park as a volunteer, it has been a lot of fun and the people both staff and other volunteers are great company. I would recommend it to anybody, as well as enjoying the work; you get a great satisfaction out of seeing the results of your efforts.”
Originally from Kings Cross, Stan moved to Tottenham in 1932 and to Enfield in 1948, he has lived in Waltham Abbey since 1952. During his working life he was a tool maker at the local gunpowder factory.
Apart from walking Stan was also a very keen cyclist and it is only recently that he has stopped riding.
Shaun Dawson, Chief Executive of the Lee Valley Regional Park said; “he is a fantastic example to us all, always full of enthusiasm and is always willing to help. Voluntary work is an important part of society and Stan has excelled himself over the years. I would like to say thank-you to him, not just from the Lee Valley Regional Park, but also from all the people he has helped over the years, many events and activities and much of the conservation work undertaken is greatly enhanced because of the work of people like Stan.”
As a mark of gratitude Stan was presented with a photograph album with memories of his 25 years of work in the Park.
For more information about volunteering at Lee Valley Regional Park, contact the Information Centre on 0845 770 600 or visit www.leevalleypark.org.uk
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For more information, photographs and interviews; contact Neal Grant, Lee Valley Regional Park Authority on 01992 709830, (M) 07785 303718, (E) ngrant@leevalleypark.org.uk
Lee Valley Regional Park stretches 26 miles along the course of the River Lee from Ware in Hertfordshire to East India Dock Basin on the Thames. The Park’s 10,000 acres comprises of a mix of heritage sites, nature reserves and open green spaces and sports facilities.