A TAUNTON woman who ignored friends’ advice for 50 years has won an accolade for her dedication to a children’s charity.

Fay Thomas, 80, has been presented with the NSPCC’s Gold Seal Loyal Award for half a century’s fundraising for the organisation.

Mrs Thomas, president of the West Somerset branch and chairman of the Taunton district, began volunteering when her friend asked her if she would start a committee in Taunton.

She said: “Everyone told me I wouldn’t be able to do it because my children were young, but I did it because I believed in the NSPCC.

“And I’ve continued to volunteer for the last 50 years because I still believe in the NSPCC.

“Children are so important – they’re our future.”

The efforts over decades of NSPCC volunteers Marjorie Connell (Staplegrove), Valerie Adam and Gilly Tilden (both Taunton), Carla Griffith (Kingston St Mary) and Frances Vail (South Quantocks) have also been recognised with Red Seal Loyal Awards.

Alison Armer, NSPCC community fundraising manager for Somerset, said: “Fay is one of only three volunteers to be presented with an NSPCC Gold Seal Loyal Award in the UK this year.

“During her time volunteering, she’s made a massive contribution towards keeping children safe.

“All the volunteers at the West Somerset branch who were presented with loyal awards are absolute inspirations.

“They have dedicated huge amounts of time from their very busy lives to the belief that every childhood is worth fighting for and, because of them, we are now able to protect more children from abuse and neglect than ever before.”