THE Review has teamed up with Paul and Sue Robinson, who have recently retired from Mills and Walker Garage in Lydney, for this week’s competition for our readers.

The prize for the lucky winners are four tickets to their Barn Dance Retirement Bash, where they will be raising money for Great Oaks Hospice. The event will be held at Little Box Farm on Awre Road in Blakeney, on Saturday, June 15th, with a hog roast and Dick Brice and band.

After recently calling time on running their garage in Lydney after 34 years, the couple aren’t taking life sitting down - they are bowing out by doing the epic Offa’s Dyke trek from Prestatyn to Chepstow in July, a mega 177-miles from the top to the bottom of Wales.

And Paul, 73, and Sue, 71, will be launching their fundraiser in style with their giant retirement bash on Saturday, June 15, to say thanks to their “fantastic and loyal” customers.

Paul said: “We’ve got great memories of all our years at Mills and Walker. We’ve had great customers over the years - fantastic loyalty and friendships, and we’ll miss that everyday rapport with people, many who just dropped in for a chat.

“But we’re looking forward to an active retirement,” said keen musician and horse rider Paul, who might just take a travelling guitar with him on their charity trek.

“I’ve composed some songs, some of which I’ve recorded at Berry Hill studios, and some with a local theme, such as one about pigs in the Forest. And I’m thinking about taking a guitar with me on the walk, and playing a song and uploading it online every day.”

Teamwork will be to the fore when they set out on their epic charity walk.

Sue said: “We’re starting at Prestatyn because at least we’re walking home then. We’ll be doing 10 to 17 miles a day depending on the terrain, with some challenging hill sections along the way and expect to take 10 to 14 days.

The couple are marking their retirement with their fundraising push to help Great Oaks following the recent passing of Paul’s brother.

“I lost my brother Daniel three years ago on May 23, 2016, and saw the care that’s required. And knowing the good work the hospice does, we thought it would be great to celebrate our retirement by supporting it,” said Paul.

The hospice opened in 2005 and last year cared for nearly 400 patients. It also now has a ‘hospice at home service’ for those who want to be cared for at home.

It costs £600,000 a year to run, and its team of nurses cover the Forest area 24 hours a day, with referrals from GPs, district nurses and hospitals.

They also provide counselling and complementary therapy, while 180 volunteers support the nurses’ work, including at the six Great Oaks shops in Coleford, Cinderford, Lydney, Newnham, Mitcheldean and Newent.

“We’re just grateful to be fit and well enough at our stage of life to contemplate doing this walk and helping Great Oaks,” said Paul.

“And we also thought we’d throw a barn dance bash for everyone to kick it off and raise funds and awareness.

“A friend, Ba Tobin, is letting us hold the event at Little Box Farm on Awre Road in Blakeney, and we’re having folk singer Dick Brice and his band doing the calling, I’ll be playing a few tunes with some friends, and there’s a hog roast BBQ, a bar and an auction of promises,” said Paul.

“We’re extremely grateful to Ba, who is allowing us to use her barn and facilities at Little Box Farm, and all the people who will be helping, plus those donating to the promise acuction.”

Tickets are available priced £7.50 from the Review offices in Lydney, the Great Oaks hospice shops, Mills and Walker garage and Hannah’s Music in Chepstow, and accompanied 12s and under go free.

Walk sponsorship forms will also be available soon at the above locations and on the night of the fundraising retirement party, and the couple are planning to put up an online donation page.

For your chance to win four tickets to Paul and Sue’s Barn Dance Retirement Bash at Little Box Farm on Awre Road in Blakeney, on Saturday, June 15th, simply answer the following question:

How many miles are Paul and Sue Robinson walking for charity?

To enter post your answer in the comments box at the bottom of this article, or send in the competition form printed on the back page of this week’s Review. Good luck!

The closing date for this competition is 1pm on Monday, June 10th.

The usual Review terms and conditions apply.