By Monica Jones
When we first launched Shepperton Matters, over 10 years ago, I re-member meeting June Barnard, when she was running Shepperton Ladies, a group she is still involved in. She had invited me to the unveil-ing of a bench at Renfree Corner that her group had donated to the community.
Well, nothing stops June! For the past 20 years she has been enhanc-ing life in the community. Her latest group is called Just June Trips and Event.
She tells me “When we went in-to lockdown in March 2020, all my trips were cancelled. So I set about keeping people in touch. I wrote monthly
newsletters keeping them up to date with trav-el issues. I also made 3000 phone calls phon-ing people who regularly came on my
coach trips and holidays, making sure people were not lonely. It gave me a chance to talk
about families and friends and get to know them all”.
June also found she could help by putting them in touch with people she knew would help with what they needed. She enjoyed con-necting people who could help each other, including local traders.
So in fact June’s social group has gone from strength to strength and she has enjoyed being able to organise trips once more. No sooner had May 17th 2021 arrived, the date we could start holidays, a group of 48 set off for a 5 day break in Lytham St Annes, all Covid Compliant. Since then June has organised many day trips, and weekend breaks. She has done wonders in terms of bringing some normality to the lives of people of Shepperton and the surrounding areas. People who may have been isolated for months have enjoyed a social life once again and made new friends. Just Junes Trips and Events is a social group of like minded people. In November and December June also arranged a couple of great trips for Purple Angels, the first trips they had had in many months. She hired luxury coaches and supported local companies.
Looking forward to 2022 June has an exciting programme of day trips and holidays.
“Everyone is looking forward to better times” says June. Events will start with a ‘Beat Winter Blues lunch and Entertainment’ at the newly refurbishes Holiday Inn in Shepperton.
June does all this voluntarily. She says “My reward is smiles, hugs, lovely emails and friendship.
No wonder than that June was awarded a Letter of Commendation by The Civic Award Trust in 2017for her continued services to the community.
If you want to get involved, June would be delighted to hear from you. Please contact
Just June Trips and Events
01932 563739