A FAMILY that delivered a van load of vital food and supplies for migrants in Calais has paid tribute to the ‘amazing generosity’ of their village.

The Gildersleve family from South Brent organised a collection of food and money after deciding that they wanted to do something to help migrants stranded in the French port.

Nick and Linda Gildersleve and grown up children Ed, who lives in Bristol and Jess, based in London, discussed the migrant crisis over the festive season. Jess regularly travels to Belgium in search of antique furniture for her London shop, seeing the situation in Calais first hand, and the family agreed something had to be done. A couple of weeks later, after reading some heartrending news stories on the crisis, the family decided to act.

After putting up posters and spreading the word, in just two weeks Nick and Linda, who run Gildersleve Antiques, received donations of around £1,000 in cash and ‘loads and loads’ of food from the people of South Brent.

Ed and Jess had also collected money, and the family were able to buy a substantial amount of additional food, as well as building materials and other supplies. Everything they bought and collected was on a list of things required by Calais Kitchens, an organisation that is coordinating delivery of food and setting up kitchens in the Calais and Dunkirk refugee camps.

Setting off first thing on Friday, January 22, Nick and Linda collected Ed in Bristol and headed to London. After picking up yet more food, the van now heavily loaded, they set off for the Eurotunnel first thing on Saturday morning.

Arriving at Calais Kitchens’ huge warehouse, the first impression was ‘pretty chaotic’ according to Nick. He continued: ‘But we soon realised that it was really well-organised. It’s completely run by volunteers, mostly young English people, and they’re all there for a common purpose.

‘They just kept saying how grateful they were. Once we got there, we realised that it really had been the right thing to do.’

Linda added: ‘A lot of the villagers were I think just really pleased that we were able to go, as we have the big van. The volunteers asked us to please pass on their thanks to everyone that donated.

‘South Brent is good at this sort of thing. I didn’t know people felt so strongly, but the response was amazing.

‘I think it just bought out the caring side in people. We’ve never done anything like this before, but we just thought it was something we should do, as a family.’

Read more in the Ivybridge and South Brent Gazette