Gazette & Herald village correspondent set to retire (From Gazette & Herald)

Gazette & Herald village correspondent set to retire

7:00am Wednesday 23rd January 2013 in News

WHILE sprightly Barbara Grice proudly admits to being 75, she’s probably one of the busiest people in Ryedale.

For despite having had a serious illness, she is involved in almost every aspect in the busy community life of Sherburn, including undertaking the post of village correspondent for the Gazette & Herald, from which she is retiring at the end of the month after 12 years.

Through her diligent recording of events run by the many organisations in the village, she is also involved in many of them, from taking monthly services at the historic parish church of St Hilda’s, to running a sewing group at her home in West Garth. And as an additional hobby, she has another group, making greetings cards and specialising in painting.

“We have many organisations in Sherburn – it’s a really thriving village,”

said Barbara, who, along with her late husband, David, ran Sherburn’s East Riding pub before they retired.

As well as being a lay minister at St Hilda’s, where she is also a leading fundraiser, she is involved with the over 60s luncheon club, is a member of the village hall committee and a member of the church council.

Barbara hit the headlines last summer when, to mark her 75th birthday, she did a parachute jump and raised £2,000 for St Hilda’s, part of what she describes as her “bucket list”.

Also on this list is going on a zip wire in Dalby Forest, a trip in a hot air balloon, visiting the Second World War arboretum at Coventry, where she has a relative buried, making a patchwork quilt and spending a holiday on the Isle of Wight.

After David died two and a half years ago, Barbara decided to get more involved in community life and take on challenging activities.

She spent 40 years with Nat West Bank, 28 of them at the Malton branch, and then as manager of the Kirkbymoorside branch.

When Barbara and David ran the East Riding, they staged harvest festivals, carol services and Easter bonnet events, as well as raising thousands of pounds for charity.

Determined to reach the 100- year milestone in her life, Barbara wants to receive a card from Buckingham Palace.

“I’d love a card from King Charles – or even King William,” she laughed.

• The Gazette & Herald is now seeking a new village correspondent for Sherburn. Anyone interested is asked to write to The Editor, Gazette & Herald, 76-86 Walmgate, York, YO1 9YN, email gazette@gazetteherald.co.uk or phone 01904 567146.