AN ELLESMERE Port community stalwart who set up a regular lunch club for the elderly and disabled has been nominated for a Your Champions award.

It’s been almost 17 years since Captain Dave O’Brien, 64, started the Food For Thought lunch clubs through St Thomas’ Church, Ellesmere Port, and back then there were just 16 volunteers.

Nowadays there are almost 90 people helping out with cooking two course lunches each week and organising day trips across the country.

Dave, a Church Army Captain, is also the driving force behind the Community Transport Scheme, which offers a minibus service for residents with mobility problems, which picks them up and brings them to the church for lunch.

But for Dave, who has been nominated in the Person of the Year category by one of his volunteers, he gets nothing but fulfilment from his duties with the lunch club.

“I’m made up to be nominated, it’s fantastic, but I couldn’t do it without my volunteers, they are wonderful,” he said.

“It only works because of them. Our ethos is Christian, and we just really try and be a support to those who might not otherwise be able to get out and about.

“We try to give them the very best, and of course they’ve got their problems – some of them were fearful about coming to the lunch club at first, but we just want them to know we’re here for them, and we have some fantastic days out to places that otherwise they might not be able to get to.”

Dave, who was one of the flame-bearers during Ellesmere Port’s Paralympic Torch Relay last week in honour of all the disabled people he helps, added: “In my job you keep space in your diary because you never know what will turn up.

“We will support anyone, some of them become like family.

“I will be retiring next year and moving to Wales so there are lots of people I will really miss.

To nominate someone for an award, complete the form in the paper or visit www.ellesmereportpioneer.co.uk/yourchampions .

“The Port is a great place and full of lovely people.”