Barry man honoured for his dedication to The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association (From Barry And District News)

Barry man honoured for his dedication to The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association

8:40am Wednesday 15th August 2012 in News

A BARRY man who has raised thousands for charity has been recognised for his efforts at a special presentation evening.

Doug Provis, 87, has been a stalwart supporter of The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association for many years.

And the charity recently caught up with Doug at the monthly Barry RAFA Branch meeting, to present him with a framed photograph in appreciation of his continued involvement.

Doug's commitment began back in the early 1980s when Foresters (previously called The Independent Order of Foresters) encouraged their local fraternal RAFA Branches to collect cans and foil.

St David Branch began in earnest with Doug immediately offering to be 'Foil Chairman' – a role he continued in for nearly 25 years. He would gather up foil and cans and collect from all over Barry and Cardiff, and then on a monthly basis take it all to the Guide Dog Centre in Cardiff.

When the centre had to stop taking in foil, Doug found an outlet in Cardiff that would pay for it, and he would present the cash to the Guide Dogs.

Since that time Doug has collected 3600 kilos to the value of £1,926 – and he still receives cans and foil which he crushes at home and takes to the scrap merchant in Cardiff.

For eight years he also towed the Guide Dog Show Caravan to events, including Builth Wells and scout fetes, where with his wife Val, he would help on the Guide Dog stall.

A charity spokesperson said: “Doug has shown tremendous commitment – and still does at the age of 87!”