About our volunteers

Former Police Constable Ivy Limbrick volunteers as the Outdoor Activities Co-ordinator at VIC and also runs the Chatty Crafters.
She said: “I served 21 years in the police until I was retired because of ill health through depression.
“I had lots of part-time jobs when I was bringing up my children and I got involved with VIC through Rossendale and Pendle Mountain Rescue Team where I used to be a volunteer.”
In 2016 Ivy became Outdoor Activities Co-ordinator and has arranged a series of different social inclusion activities from a visit to Eden Camp in North Yorkshire to various military museums, a mining museum and pit and the Antony Gormley statues at Crosby Beach.
She said: “What I enjoy most is the walks because it is great for everyone who attends to enjoy a bit of escapism. We also put the world to rights.”
Walks and social inclusion activities are held on a Thursday; check the newsletter and Facebook page for more information.

A friendly group of ladies meet every Monday at VIC to knit, natter and craft.
The Crafty Chatters volunteers makes a variety of items to sell and support VIC and also create teddies for the fire service to give to children who are struggling with trauma.
Air force nurse veteran Chris Smethurst said: “I think sometimes the wrong message goes out about veterans; people think they are all old and they are just men, but veterans are all ages and women as well as men.
“I like coming here for the company and we always have a laugh. If you come in on a Monday and feel a bit down, five minutes after Irene arrives she cheers you up.”
Former mill weaver Irene Peel has tried different knit and natter groups but found they didn’t suit her. However she has loved being a member of Crafty Chatters.
She said: “I have tried knitting for ages and I have also done crochet. I made a shawl and am making a trauma teddy. I come here for the company and this is the first group I have been in where everyone always gets along.”
Jane Harvey used to have her own craft shop and said: “I enjoy coming here and I like making the teddies because it is for a good cause.
“I just called in to see if there was anything here I was interested in and I found out about the Crafty Chatters and have since made lots of new friends.”
A chance meeting with Outreach Worker Steve Butterworth in Colne led Janet Attwell to join the group.
Janet, from Trawden, said: “Steve had a stand in the town centre and I got to talk into to him and asked if I could help the organisation.
“He advised I call into the office and see what there was and I found out about the Chatty crafters.
“I have done craft all my life and I initially came for the company. I had never crocheted before, but now I can, and I like making things that VIC can sell on the craft stalls.
“I love making the teddies and the chicks at Easter and the covers for Terry’s Chocolate Oranges.”
The Chatty Crafters meet every Monday from 10am to 12 noon and everyone is made most welcome.

Veteran firefighter John Edwards discovered VIC when it was suggested he join their Christmas party at the IDL League Club - he has not looked back.
At first he would attend a couple of times a week, but after his wife of 56 years Megan died in April last year he has been at the centre in Haslingden almost every day.
John, 76, served as a firefighter for 29 years rising to the position of Station Officer.
He was stationed, albeit sometimes just for a day, at almost every fire station in East Lancashire, and also at Lancaster and Morecambe. But for a problem with his legs he would have continued in the service.
He said: “In 1991 I finished on ill health grounds, I was 51. Megan was still working as the cook at Stonefold School and when she retired in 1996 she was looking after our grandchild.
“I don’t remember a lot about those years, before I came to VIC, but now I realise that I was in a bad place, stressed out and as tight as piano wire.
“I have now found a sense of belonging and worth.”
At the Christmas Party, John met up with a former colleague who invited him to the VIC Centre.
As the charity had only recently taken over the building on Bury Road, John got stuck in and helped to put in the kitchen and assisted with carpeting the conference room.
He said: “I have always been involved in music, I was in a church choir, the fire brigade choir, the Conservative Club Choir and so I joined the VIC Singing Group.
“I then suggested to Megan that she might like to get involved and help to collect while we were singing.”
Megan’s death hit John hard. They had been on a cruise when she was diagnosed as being short of B12 and she was taken straight to hospital in La Palma for 11 days.
She was flown back home and was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia and given just six months; three weeks later she passed away.
John said: “I could not have coped with Megan’s death as well if I had not been coming here.
“I have done things I would never thought of doing. At Whitehough I climbed a pole and walked across the zig-zag 25ft up in the air. I also tried the leap of faith, although I only managed to sit on the top and fall off instead of jumping.
“It has kept me busy and I have kept myself busy and I have had a lot of support from everyone at VIC.”

Darren is a Veteran who has served in the Army for over 9 years. He has toured many Countries around the world including Northern Ireland and the Falkland Islands.

Darren found his talent for painting during his 10-year attendance at Combat Stress in Leatherhead. Some of Darren's work has been displayed (and sold) in the Mall and Tate Galleries, London. Since joining VIC in 2011 he has coordinated arts and crafts projects for veterans and their families and has undergone training for personal and professional development. He is now a case worker for the RBL and is coming to the end of his PTLLS course.

The art group is growing strong with many veterans coming forward wanting to 'give it a go'! Darren loves teaching painting and hopes that other veterans will find peace of mind in the comfort of arts and crafts, as he does.

Darren is a keen fisherman and gets involved with as many of the VIC's outdoor activities as he can.

Ron Flowers

Phil Chamberlain

Phil Chamberlain
Phil joined the Army at 16 in 1987 as an Apprentice RTG in the Royal Signals. He Re-badged to the Adjutant General Corp (AGC) as a Military Clerk. Phil spent almost 10 years in Germany in Lippstadt, Soest, Berlin, Osnabruck, and Gutersloh .
This was interrupted with a 6 month posting to 3Div, Bulford from Soest and 6 months in Croatia during my final posting . Since leaving the forces after 11 years service in 1998 I have done a variety of jobs from Clerical, sales, delivery driver and security work. I am currently a carer for my beautiful wife Jayne. I play darts (badly nowadays) for a local pub team and I am very active politically locally. I love quizzes and love walking (good job as I don’t have a car)

Keith (Shep) Shepherd

Pat McEvoy

Simon Peace

Jacko Pearce

Brian McEvoy