CHARITY fund-raiser Val Norman, of Watchet, has been praised for her lifelong devotion to raising money for good causes, which has topped £100,000.

Mrs Norman, aged 86, who received an MBE in 1999 for her charitable work, has lived in Watchet for 57 years after moving from Fleet, Hampshire.

She was married for 47 years to Keith Norman after meeting him on a blind date, who died in 2023.

Together, they supported a myriad of charities and good causes in Watchet and the wider area, with the Children’s Hospice South West being a particular favourite, which Mrs Norman has helped for 32 years.

Mrs Norman said she was one of a group of friends who all helped to support local organisations, although many had since died.

She was one of 10 volunteers who opened a charity shop in Watchet to support the Musgrove Leukaemic Group, and opened a children’s hospice store, which was later taken on by St Margaret’s Hospice.

Mrs Norman, who worked for 11 years as a cleaner in Williton Hospital, also served on parent-teacher associations for schools in Watchet and Minehead and helped whenever fund-raising events were organised, such as jumble sales or sponsored walks.

She said: “I am not alone, there is a nice group of people who all help.

“We have a lot of charity work going on in the town, and the mothers’ club raises thousands of pounds for charity.

“You meet such a lot of nice people.

“It is about helping out, working together you get something done.”

One memorable fund-raising event involved sleeping out overnight on Watchet Esplanade for the BBC’s Children in Need appeal.

More recently, Mrs Norman was the first person to enter the inaugural Watchet Santa Fun Run which raised money for the town’s war memorial recreation ground.

She said: “We need this field, we need something for the youngsters to do.”

Mrs Norman said she had always followed the motto of her late mother Golda Whitehead, who sadly died at the age of 58.

She said: “My mother always said do not feel sorry for somebody, do something to help.

“You just have to get on with life.”

Although she has slowed in recent years, Mrs Norman shrugs off any suggestion of retiring and continues to help Watchet Carnival and Watchet Summertime, and still collects items to be sold in charity shops.

Santa fun run organiser Lori Lee said: “Val has been an avid supporter of the community events we have been organising in Watchet.

“She is an amazing lady we are lucky to have onboard, and I am very pleased to have her help for any of our events in Watchet.

“She is always willing to help at our garden and flower show in July, helping on the raffle or sorting out the prizes.

“She supports our monthly gardening club which she knows helps keep the group going and numbers up.

“I will be surprised if she is not helping with our new dog show in May.”