Pride in Pill celebrates its fourth anniversary with a party

A COMMUNITY group dedicated to litter picking in an area of Newport celebrated their fourth anniversary with a party yesterday.

Pride in Pill chairman Paul Murphy hosted the event to celebrate four years in service at the Pillgwenlly Millennium Centre and to say thank you to volunteers.

Mr Murphy who lives in Ocean Court, Pill said: “We have been going for just over four years and I thought it would be nice to thank the volunteers and to celebrate.

“It’s a bonus reaching four years, it is hard work and I work full-time as well, but I’ve done this for the community.

“It has improved a lot, and the community are getting more involved as well.”

Mr Murphy celebrated the day with a buffet and complimentary wine with guests from the community and businesses such as housing association, Melin Homes.

Mr Murphy set up the group four years ago with Margaret Morgan as he said there was a lot of fly-tipping and rubbish in Pill.

The team try to meet every month and have around 30 volunteer litter pickers.

Pride in Pill’s first litter pick saw the volunteers collect 150 bags of rubbish, however Mr Murphy said there has been a vast improvement.

“It’s cut down by around half. So from around 50 bags on average to now around 20,” said Mr Murphy.

The action group received the nationally recognised Queen’s Award last year for their voluntary service.

Councillor Matthew Evans, leader of the Conservative group also attended the celebration.

Cllr Evans said: “Paul does such a fantastic job driving the community and he has got a lot of good people helping him.

“I have been helping them out over the past couple of years and recommending them for awards.

“It will be nice to find a day when you don’t actually need them, but sadly I think that day is a long way off.”

Over the years the South Wales Argus have followed Pride in Pill’s journey, here is some of our articles:

http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/16066408.Newport_group_marks_its_fourth_anniversary/

http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/15901968.Group_receives_certificate_from_the_Queen/