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Dr Clunie supports Acorn again as he retires .....

Huge thanks and congratulations to Dr Clunie, as he retires on 31st May.  Over the (many) years Dr Clunie has raised much needed funds for Acorn. Below will be a brief history of his slightly off the wall endeavors. To mark his retirement after 26 years at the practice, he will again be raising funds for Acorn by cycling 2360 miles in one go from home to Bari in South-East Italy.

 

It all began when Acorn were looking to buy their first minibus back in 2001 and needed to raise a substantial amount of money and Dr Clunie said he would help.

 

Firstly, he and his long-distance running chum Rob Hitchings decided it would be a good thing to run from one side of the Dartmoor National Park boundary to the other.  So, in June they did just that, running from Lydford to the Manor Inn, Ashton. In 2002, Dr Clunie decided he would run the London Marathon and completed that in in 3 hours 5 minutes.  Both these events and some grant applications enabled Acorn to purchase their very first minibus.  

 

Inevitable knee issues brought his running career to a premature end and so the first (of many) bicycle was bought.

 

 

In 2008, Dr Clunie persuaded his son Ben, at the tender age of 16 to cycle John O’Groats to Lands End raising money jointly for Acorn and the RNLI. This was duly completed over 10 days, cycling 100 miles a day. In 2014 the two Doctors: Hayter and Clunie thought it a grand idea to cycle 260 miles around the perimeter of Devon, again raising funds for Acorn.

 

Perhaps the most bonkers endeavor of all, in 2019 Dr Clunie decided to cycle half-way up Mount Everest, using Bridford Hill as his mountain.  It comprised 27 cycles up and 27 cycles down. A total of 4200m of vertical climbing and over 54 miles. Lastly, he did the Acorn cycle 300 miles in September 2020 over a weekend cycling 152 miles a day.

 

All these challenges have raised significant sums that have helped Acorn immeasurably over the years including helping buy and replace two minibuses.

 

So here we are.  The Doc has decided to hang up his stethoscope but not his cycling helmet.   He has generously committed to raising his last tranche of funds for Acorn by cycling from home in Devon to the coastal town, Bari in Southeast Italy via Paris, Geneva, Milan and Rome.  He will be accompanied by his good friend Olaf and the plan is that it should take them 3-4 weeks.   There will be several places where you can follow their trip and keep up to date with the Doc’s daily blog:

 

The two surgeries will have a very humorous and visual wall map, updated daily with their progress and escapades.  

 

We will be publishing regular blogs from Dr Clunie, both at the Surgeries and also on this website and the Acorn and Cheriton Bishop General Practice facebook pages.  

 

If you wish to support Dr Clunie in his endeavours, then please use the Donate button on the Acorn Home page or you can donate cash via the collecting buckets at the Surgery.

 

Thank you for all your support and GOOD LUCK DOC CLUNIE!

May 2024

Activities From Cheriton Bishop 

  • Lunch Club, at The Kings Arms - Tedburn St Mary Tuesday 7th May 2024- contact Jean Martin on 01647 24586 to book (a couple of days in advance please). (4thJune 2024 will be the next one)

  • Shopping is at Sainsburys – Fortnightly on Wednesday 8th and 22nd May 2024.  The bus will collect you from home and return you safely back with your shopping. 

  • Outing – Drive on the Moors stopping at Warren House Inn and Widecombe in the Moor 21st May 2024

For those in any Area of Acorn’s domain!

  • Tea @ the Hub – Fortnightly on a Friday 2-4pm at the Young Farmers Head Office Building in Cheriton Bishop. Join us for Tea, Talk, Coffee, Cake and a mingle making new, and catching up with old, friends. 3rd, 17th and 31st May 2024.  (Please note that the 31st May will start at 3pm to allow time for you to go to the Village hall first to say your goodbyes to Dr Clunie on his retirement.) No need to book just turn up. 

  • Memory Lane Café – 9th and 30th May 2024. If you know of someone who you feel may benefit from this targeted club, then please call as below. 

 

Activities From the Teign Valley 

  • Lunch Club – Tuesday 14th May 2024 – The Taw River - Sticklepath

  • Shopping at Sainsburys – Monday 6th and 20th May 2024 

  • Outing –23rd May 2024 – “Bluebell Drive” Haytor/Hound Tor (Holwell Lawn) and Ullacombe Farm for refreshments.

  • Coffee Morning - Tuesday 7th and 21st May 2024 at the Teign Valley Community Hall. Activities such as Bingo, Quizzes and much more with plenty of chatter to go with your coffee and cake!  Our members always LOVE to see new faces. 

 

If you would like to book a seat on the minibus for any of our trips, lunches or coffee mornings, then please contact Mandy or Fran at the Office on 

01647 252701 seats are allocated on a first come first served basis.

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