A COUPLE who have contributed greatly to the community of Coldridge were thanked following a meeting of Coldridge Village Hall committee.

Margaret Burrows, hall committee chair, said of John and Jo Dike, who are leaving the village for pastures new: "I would like to thank you for all that you have done for the village hall and the village during the 24 years you have lived here.

"We wish you well in the future and know you have promised to return monthly to see us."

She paid tribute to John for his work as a member of the Village Hall committee, for getting the cinema and pub going and for the books about the village he has written.

She talked about the race, Trafalgar and Army nights and about fundraisers for the hall.

She thanked him for his research into the history of the parish church and how this had helped with fundraising for the church, hall and village organisations.

Margaret thanked Jo for re-starting the village art group and for her involvement with the church and wider community.

One of those at the social event explained that it was Jo who had co-ordinated the making of 600 bandanas for nurses at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital during covid, rallying all the village to help make them.

John said: "It has been a delight living in this village.  You are all friends and we have done a lot together.”

Jo said: "Thank you for the love we have had since we first arrived.  This is a lovely village and there is nothing like it."

Mrs Burrows presented John and Jo with a painting of Coldridge Parish Church by a local resident.