DO you remember 1972? The year the first digital watches were introduced and the year the space shuttle programme launched. Popular musicians at the time included ABBA and Elton John and Edward Heath was the UK Prime Minister.

It was also the year Peter started volunteering for the Exeter branch of Samaritans: “Being a Samaritan volunteer has been one of the most formative influences in my life. It has allowed me to be open to hundreds of people from all walks of life.”

Now in 2019, the local branch in Richmond Road, Exeter come together to celebrate the recruitment of their 2,000th volunteer since the branch opened in January 1964.

The branch’s current Director, John says: "We have more than 120 volunteers at Samaritans of Exeter, Mid and East Devon, and they range from listening volunteers who are there to support our callers, to street collectors who do vital work keeping the branches coffers topped up.

“The branch is entirely composed of volunteers and there’s lots to get involved with. There’s a bit of something for anyone who wants to get involved with a local charity somehow."

The way Samaritans support Callers has changed dramatically since 1972, explained by Peter: “There were no mobile telephones or personal computers in the 70’s, many of our callers rang us from telephone boxes and some mature callers were afraid of the telephone and came to see us in person instead.”

As technology has advanced and people’s preferred methods of contact have changed, Samaritans have had to adapt. During 2018/19 it responded to 26,357 telephone calls within its branch, 4,375 emails, 7,859 text messages and spoke with 147 callers face-to-face.

In his 47th year as a Samaritan, Peter reflects on his motivations for volunteering: “What I am doing as a Samaritan is clear and simple. All I am doing is listening compassionately, forgetting myself, belonging with that other person, the Caller, and so helping him/her to be who he/she is; to express their feelings, to know themselves, where their strengths are; helping him/her to see ways of coping, and going on.”

On Sunday, June 2, the branch celebrated the recruitment of its 2,000th volunteer at an annual celebration to mark Volunteers’ Week, a national campaign which recognises the fantastic contribution millions of volunteers make across the UK.

The Samaritans of Exeter, Mid and East Devon would like to say a special thank you to the staff of Waitrose in Sidmouth for generously providing the catering for their Volunteers’ Week event.

If you would like to become the 2,001st volunteer at Samaritans in Exeter or to find out more about its work, please visit the website: www.samaritans.org/branches/exeter/ .