Community rallies to help devoted North Devon dad after devastating stroke

The young family of a devoted Barnstaple dad and tireless Round Table fundraiser have been overwhelmed by and outpouring of love and support after he suffered a major stroke aged just 42.

Mike ‘Driller’ Jewell should still be celebrating the recent birth of his young son, but instead he is fighting to recover at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth after being struck by a haemorrhagic stroke, leaving his wife Ellie and three children facing immense hardship.

Above: Mikey ‘Driller’ Jewell shortly after the birth of his baby son and not long before he was hit by a devastating stroke.

With Mike self-employed and Ellie on maternity leave, Barnstaple Round Table has launched a GoFundMe appeal to help Ellie pay the bills and keep a roof over the children’s heads.

The response has been amazing, with donations flooding in and the total already stands at almost £19,000.

Above: Mike with his wife Ellie and their two daughters.

This year Mike was chosen as chairman for Barnstaple Round Table and for many years he has been the driving force behind the annual fireworks display at Barnstaple Rugby Club for local charities, as well the actual driver of the popular Santa sleigh tour around the town.

Following the stroke, Mike needed to undergo surgery due to the bleed on his brain and he has been in an induced coma, with an initial attempt to reduce the medication keeping him under unsuccessful, but doctors are hoping to try again soon.

In addition to their new son, Ellie and Mike have two daughters aged 12 and three, but his stroke came out of the blue and ripped their world apart.

Ellie said: “Anyone who knows Mike knows he a lovable rogue who will help anyone he can, is always up for a laugh but is also a big family man with a massive heart.

“We were so happy to complete our family last month with the addition of our baby boy to our two girls so his sudden stroke has shaken our world.

“Myself and our family are overwhelmed by the support and love we have received and once Mike is awake he will be too. He is a fighter and we are staying positive that he will be back home with us soon.”

The couple seemed destined to be together – they first met at playgroup and dated in their late teens, but then went their separate way for 10 years.

Ellie added: “It was one of the many fireworks displays he organises for Round Table that got us back in touch and a few years later we met up one evening after he had finished on the Santa sleigh - the rest as they say is history.”

Above: ‘Driller’ with his friends from Barnstaple Round Table, who are hoping and praying he can recover from his stroke.

Aaron Jackson, deputy chair and acting chair while Mike in unwell, said he had known Mike and Ellie for 30 years. He added: “Mike has been an avid Tabler for 15 years and has always been keen to promote it as a social club for men to get together and for its local charitable causes helping many local groups, clubs and charities. He has campaigned for these local causes for many years.

“He was instrumental in keeping the annual fireworks display going when on two separate years it was discussed about stopping due to it not making a profit, so he said would take it on and ensure it was a success the following year.

“He is always up for a laugh and bringing out the best in people and getting them to come out of their shell. His popularity is evident by the support of so many people in this fundraiser, from people who have known him for years and those who have only met him once.

“You can't walk down the street with him without at least five people stopping him to say hello!”

READ NEXT: Barnstaple Roundtable Santa Sleigh raises major funds for local causes

Ash Thorne of Barnstaple Round Table and Santa Sleigh co-ordinator also paid tribute to his friend. He said Mike had joined the Round Table at quite a young age and had travelled often for work in years past, including working on cruise ships as an on-board carpenter.

He went on: “He re-joined Round Table after Covid and it’s really good that he did, because no one else had the appetite for the fireworks and the event has raised a phenomenal amount of money for many local charities.

“Mikey has been the main driver for the Santa Sleigh and probably drove 10 to 12 of the nights last year. He’s a really excellent driver and is happy to back the sleigh down all sorts of streets. We did a number of streets last year that were not on the map and we were told we couldn’t do, but he did it.

“He is such a good guy, he goes out of his way to help people - he is that kind of person.

“The support for the appeal has been incredible from the public and the Round Table community.”

If you would like to donate to the appeal to help support Ellie and the children while Mike is so ill, please go to https://www.gofundme.com/f/please-help-ellie-husband-mikey-aka-driller-critically-ill