Name: Stuart Revell

What volunteer roles have you been doing? Carpark Attendant and Meet & Greet

Describe your usual day as a volunteer: I usually arrive 30 minutes before the shift to get organised, ensure a Covid test is done where necessary and to receive a handover from a previous shift if I’m on the rota for an afternoon. Then it’s four hours of organising parking, collecting people from their cars ready for their vaccination, reassuring the worried, helping those with mobility difficulties, trying to keep any queueing time as short as possible, and meeting/chatting to lots of wonderful people whilst they are waiting.

What is your normal job or employment? I took early retirement from my job as a Primary School Deputy Head just over a year ago. After volunteering as a prescription delivery driver in the first lockdown I’m now employed by a local pharmacy to deliver medicines to some of our older residents, as well as those who may be shielding or self-isolating in Ross on Wye and surrounding villages.

What made you want to volunteer? I wanted to get out and do something practical in the fight against Covid and this felt like a really positive thing to be involved in.

Tell us something about you: One of the reasons for retiring early was to do some travelling and see a bit more of the world. The global pandemic has put a stop to that for the moment but I hope to be able to resume my adventures at some point in the future! At home in Ross I enjoy country walks with my dog Twiggy, reading trashy crime fiction, red wine and good food.

Finally, do you have any other plans during this lockdown?Like many people during lockdown I’ve just been having a thorough declutter, getting some decorating done and doing some research on travel destinations for when this is, hopefully, all over.

Note from Ross-on-Wye Community Development Trust: If you are waiting to receive your Covid-19 vaccine, please contact your own local GP surgery and they will be able to advise on their scheduling. If you are self-isolating or need practical assistance during lockdown including shopping deliveries, please contact the Ross Good Neighbours’ Helpline on 01989 313002 or email help@rosscdt.org.uk and someone will get back to you.