A MAYOR’S tea was recently held for participants of Operation Surf (OpSurf), which this year came to Bude.

OpSurf began in California, and encouraged ex-service personnel who have experienced life-changing injuries or mental health issues following their service, to undergo a week-long programme of surf workshops and events, taught by world-class instructors, to improve their confidence and wellbeing.

The initiative is now jointly hosted by Help for Heroes, and supported by the Endeavour Fund.

OpSurf first came to Cornwall in 2016, with an event at Watergate Bay near Newquay, and this year held its event in Bude.

On Tuesday, September 18, mayor Bob Willingham hosted a mayor’s tea, providing tasty traditional Cornish cream teas and refreshments to those participating in this year’s event.

This comes about after a representative of local charity Bude Surf Veterans addressed Bude-Stratton Town councillors at a July meeting to ask for their support in this year’s event, with Cllr Willingham then offering to host an event for the participants of this worthwhile event.

The tea was held at the Castle Bude, welcoming servicemen and women who had been taking part in the therapeutic and adaptive surfing programme, held at Summerleaze beach.

Cllr Willingham said that although the programme is California-based, these events in Cornwall ‘look set to grow as more and more people experience the healing power of the water’.