Barnstaple Town Council has bestowed one of its highest civic honours on Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust’s COVID-19 Northern services vaccination team.

The Royal Devon was presented with the RAF Community Plate at the town council’s Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 25 May 2022.

Presenting the award, the Mayor of Barnstaple, Cllr Louisa York, said: “The RAF Community Plate was presented to the town of Barnstaple in 1974, to be awarded annually, by the town council, to an individual or group deemed by the town council to have made an outstanding contribution to the wellbeing of the community during the foregoing year.

“This year, the town council resolved that the NHS staff and volunteers who have supported the people of Barnstaple and

North Devon through the COVID-19 pandemic should be the recipients of the plate.

“The plate will be displayed at the North Devon Museum until the end of July for all to see.”

Accepting the award at Wednesday night’s meeting were Alison Newton, Operational Support Manager at the Trust’s Northern services vaccination centre, and George Hammett MBE, who has volunteered at the vaccination centre since it was first set up last year.”

George Hammett thanked the town council on behalf of the volunteers and the Trust.

Speaking after the ceremony, Leigh Mansfield, Programme Director, Vaccination Services at Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are delighted to receive this award from Barnstaple Town Council. It recognises the hard work of our staff and volunteers in delivering vaccinations to the people of North Devon and we really appreciate this gesture.”

The Mayor of Barnstaple, Cllr Louisa York, presents the RAF Community Plate to George Hammett MBE, vaccination centre volunteer, and Alison Newton, Operational Support Manager with the Royal Devon, as members of the town council look on