Litter-picking volunteer collects award from village
BBCA man who has spent more than 20 years collecting litter in his village has picked up an award.
Don Foster, 86, has been spending his free time tackling dropped rubbish in Pilsley, near Clay Cross, Derbyshire, nearly every day for more than two decades.
Hailed as an inspiration and a role model, Mr Foster has now been handed the Freedom of the Parish - the first person ever to be handed the accolade.
While out and about with his distinctive orange fleece, litter-picker and separate bags for litter and recycling, Mr Foster told BBC Radio Derby: “I can’t stand litter, and I can’t understand why people drop it.”
The retired postal worker and Army veteran said: “My bags are usually filled up by the end of each day.
“Recycling goes in our bin or if I’ve got too much, the recycling bin over at the Church Hall.
“I’m originally a Londoner, I came up here 56 years ago as it was the only place we could afford to buy a house.
“I put in to the Post Office for a transfer up here. When I started my rounds here it was so nice to walk around and see green hills.
“After I’d retired I started having the paper and then I started picking up the litter on my way back. That’s how it started.”
The decision to make Mr Foster the first Freeman of the Village came after his children, John and Nicola, contacted Pilsley Parish Council to ask if there was some way to recognise his endeavours.
Parish councillor Yvette Jordan said: “It’s a totally selfless thing that Don has been doing, and it is so important to this community.”
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