High Sheriff award to Steve Double at Care in the Garden

By Chris Cornford Jan 3, 2021

The team behind Operation Geranium, a scheme in which volunteers delivered pots of the plants to isolated and vulnerable elderly Island residents during lockdown, has been presented with a community award by High Sheriff, Caroline Peel.

The scheme was set up by Care In The Garden, a Wootton-based community interest company, giving people with disabilities the right to work, and Age UK.
The project is supported by local health care hospital worker Steve Double from Ryde.

Representatives from Age UK, Aspire, Ryde, St Catherine’s School, Ventnor and Friends of St Mary’s, who have all helped in the project, attended the presentation at Care In The Garden.
Steve said: “It was great to see so many people able to attend. Without all these different groups getting involved – from the growing of the flowers to their delivery – this would never have happened.

“We were lucky that everything managed to fall into place. During her presentation speech, Caroline spoke about the Island community’s resolve to help and support the elderly and lonely during lockdown and this is why it’s such a special place.”

Singer songwriter, Steve Young, who grew up on the Island and has played worldwide, also attended the event and some of his music was played there and, later, at Aspire.