A COUPLE from Bampton have been recognised for a combined 60 years of volunteering for Cancer Research UK.

Cancer Research Bampton branch committee members Doris Cleaver, 78, and her husband Michael, 79, were given an honorary fellowship at the Cancer Research UK Flame of Hope Volunteering Awards at The Russell Hotel, in Russell Square, London.

The charity’s executive director of fundraising, Richard Taylor, who presented the award for their “outstanding loyalty and dedication to the cause”, said they were the first couple to receive the award.

Mrs Cleaver has been chairman for 35 years and her husband has been treasurer for 25 years.

The branch has raised £250,000 over the past 15 years, organising events including quiz nights, dances, coffee mornings and bingo.

Mr Cleaver, a part-time administrator at a garage restoring classic cars, said: “We’re obviously very proud and rather surprised.

“But we’re quite happy to do what we do without a great deal of back-patting. My wife works ever so hard at it.

“Although we’ve been at this for a long time and the committee has changed over the years, we couldn’t have done it without the help of the other volunteers. Two people don’t just battle on and raise that sort of money.

“We didn’t get involved because of any connections to cancer. My wife knew the former chairman, who persuaded her to get involved and as she became interested, then I did as well.”