Citizen Of The Year announced by The Rotary Club of Barnstaple

The Rotary Club of Barnstaple has celebrated a duo of intrepid North Devon RAF veterans who have raised £1000s for local charities.

Ray Hales and Arthur Bennett are both from Barnstaple and have a combined age of 186!

Their speciality is high-flying fundraising, including both parachute jumps and wing-walking.

Ray, 95, was Rotary’s Citizen of the Year when Covid prevented the presentation to him in 2020; this year he joined with Arthur, 91, our Citizen of The Year 2022/23.

They were joined by surprise guests Andy Jones representing Macmillan Cancer Support and Eddie Farwell from Children’s Hospice South West.

Due to the pandemic and the restrictions in place at that time, Ray could only receive his certificate at arm’s length at his front door with little or no ceremony, but now The Rotary Club of Barnstaple could show its full appreciation of their achievements.

The amazing thing is that although they do help with some 'normal' bucket collections, they have been carrying out sponsored parachute jumps well into their nineties.

Arthur last did a sponsored parachute jump in July 2022 and Ray carried out a scary Wing Walk at the same time.

Both were rewarded at the Rotary meeting with the honour of personalised dedications and grateful thanks by Eddie Farwell (on behalf of Children’s Hospice South West) and Andy Jones (on behalf of Macmillan Cancer Support).

Arthur Bennett received his framed certificate from the current President Ro Day. Ray Hales was 're-presented' with his framed certificate by Past President Carol Bertie who had been President in the relevant Rotary Year 2019/2020.

Rotarians were then invited to join Arthur on his next parachute jump but there were no takers – so far.

Rotarian Brian Ross reassured both Arthur and Ray that Rotarians would certainly help with sponsorship in the future, but in the meantime would keep their feet firmly on the ground.

Ray has been supporting Children’s Hospice SW and Macmillan Cancer Support for over 30 years and Arthur has matched this dedication with his own daredevil exploits. Meeting in 1963, they worked together at Western Power Distribution, but their younger lives saw them both give service in the RAF, explaining where this love of high altitudes began.

Both were rewarded at the Rotary meeting with the honour of personalised dedications and grateful thanks by Eddie Farwell (on behalf of Children’s Hospice South West) and Andy Jones (on behalf of Macmillan Cancer Support).