Meet our lovely Carole Clifford, one of the original volunteers at Ilmington Community Shop and a ray of sunshine on her regular morning shifts. Carole, 71, was persuaded by her family to step back for a while when the pandemic was raging in January. But now she’s had her first Covid vaccination, she’s returned and she’s raring to go. “I got my first vaccination a month ago,” says Carole. “The jab itself was great. We had stickers and a family photo! I had the chills and shivers through the night, but apparently that’s quite common. I was ok after 24 hours.” Twice a week on the early shift – 7 to 9am – Carole helps to bake bread, put out fresh milk and serve customers. “The shop is my second home,” she says. “I love the interaction and social contact. It’s the meeting point of the village. During the lockdown, it’s one of the few places people can see others safely.” Carole and her husband Bryan moved to Ilmington seven years ago and Carole signed up with the community shop when it launched in 2015. “I always say to anyone new in the village, if you want to meet people, go and ask to volunteer at the shop, because that’s the way to do it.” If you’ve never been into our beautiful, high-vaulted building first thing in the morning, you should try it. There’s a peaceful buzz about the place: bright lights and the smell of baking bread; fresh dew on the fruit and vegetables as they are placed on the shelves; newly-unwrapped newspapers piled high… it’s a lovely way to start the day. “We have our regulars early in the morning when we open at 7.30,” says Carole. “You do make friends. We love meeting the people and they go away feeling happy. If there are any tradesmen in the village, we chat. There’s a nice patter. The shop shows that we care.” Thanks to people like Carole, we do
