A LAD who is probably the Forest’s youngest volunteer accepted a donation on behalf of Great Oaks Hospice.

Nine-year-old Jake Norris is a regular behind the counter at the hospice’s charity shop in Newerne Street, Lydney.

He accepted a cheque for £1,000 from the Masons’ grand charity at the Christmas lunch held for the hospice’s Lydney volunteers at the town’s Watney Hall.

The cheque was presented by Lydney businessman John Thurston who is the Masons’ provincial grandmaster for Gloucestershire.

Mr Thurston thanked the volunteers for their work and praised the community spirit of the Forest as a whole.

He said: “Thank you for the work you do in volunteering for the hospice which we greatly value.

“The Forest of Dean is one of the best places for volunteers. The volunteering spirit is absolutely huge and we have wonderful community groups.”

The cheque was one of three presented to Gloucestershire charities from the Masons’ grand charity in a week.

One was presented to Crossroads Care at its offices in Cinderford by Steve Foster of the Vale of Castiard lodge based in Lydney and the other to Cheltenham-based national charity Well Child.

Mr Thurston said: “Every year we give a cheque to every hospice in the country and a cheque every year to every air ambulance in the country.”

He added: “I’ve never presented a cheque to someone as young as Jake.”

Jake gives up his time to help at the shop every other Saturday and during the school holidays.

He started helping after being taken to the shop by his grandmother, Joan Norris, some two years ago and is now a popular figure behind the counter.

The pupil of Primrose Hill Church of England Primary School in Lydney also reckons his time at the till has done wonders for his maths.

He said: “I wasn’t very good at maths but I’m good now because I have to count the money.”

Mrs Norris said: “The till doesn’t tell you how much change to give so Jake has to work it out for himself.”

Jake added: “I really enjoy it and some people give me money for helping them.”

Crossroads Care was also presented with £1,000 and Well Child received £40,000 which is sponsoring the work of a nurse for a year.