A VOLUNTEER who worked behind the scenes at a popular local newsletter found herself in front of the cameras for the first — and last — time on the job.

Sharon Trafford, who has looked after the advertisements for the Old School News, Stoke Climsland, for the last four years, saw her last day before retirement marked with a surprise bouquet from Tesco on behalf of her grateful fellow volunteers.

Former colleague John Wilmut, chairman of the Old School trustees, said: “The job of managing advertising for the Old School News is essential but very demanding and with very little opportunity to relax between issues.

“Sharon did the job for four years and was a very easy person to work with. She was well organised and diligent, she didn’t panic, she kept to deadlines and she was always willing to do the extra tasks that would make the whole system work as smoothly as possible. Above all, she was a very nice person to have on the team.

“Her contribution will be missed but we all hope that she enjoys the many other things that she’s now involved with.”

The volunteer-run Old School News, named after Stoke Climsland’s community centre where it is based, has a circulation of 4,400 throughout Callington, Stoke Climsland and surrounding villages and picked up trophies at the National Parish Magazine Awards in 2013 and 2015.

Columnist Alan Woollcombe, who arranged the presentation, said: “Sharon’s tireless chasing after advertisers has been unglamorous hard grind, but absolutely essential for the Old School News to continue. Thanks to all the long hours she has put in, it is now on a more secure footing, and this bouquet is a small token of the team’s gratitude.”