REAL LITTER HEROES

"My philosophy is not to be angry about litter, but just to accept that it does get onto the streets somehow. I just pick it up, so restoring my town, at least, to its original beauty."
Rob Kevan aka "Rob the Rubbish", Powys

Stan Stone

Stan Stone is something of a litter super hero. In 18 months, this very fit 76 year old retired garage owner has picked an amazing 550 sacks of litter from the roads and lanes around his home in Apperley near Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire.

Stan goes out litter picking two or three times a week, in all weathers. He regularly clears litter from more than 20 miles of roads and lanes in the vicinity.

Stan's advice to anyone starting out litter picking is not to become too obsessional. He now finds it difficult to walk or drive past any litter without stopping to pick it up.

Stan is a member of Tewkesbury Borough Council's volunteer litter picking scheme. They provide the distinctive red bags, litter-picker and hi-vis waistcoat.

Peter Collins

I came across Peter (right) doing a heroic job of picking up litter from a lane near his home in Elkstone, a small village outside Cheltenham. In fact, he was the first volunteer litter picker I spotted after setting up this website. I think it's great to see someone of his age doing it. Well done Peter.

"Rob the Rubbish" Kevan

Rob Kevan is a retired social worker, chef, grandfather, marathon runner, football referee and Manchester City supporter (well, somebody has to be!). A few years ago he started to notice the litter in his town of Llanwrtyd Wells, Powys. In 2005 he started getting up at 5am and and picking up the litter from the steets around the town.

Amongst many media appearances Rob has been featured on the the Jeremy Vine Show, the One Show and the Mountain programme with Gryff Rhys-Jones.

Rob has led and inspired clean ups of a number of mountians including Snowdon and Ben Nevis. In 2006, he flew to Nepal with a film crew and participated in a 3 week trek clearing litter from the walk in to Everest Base Camp.

Boughton Litter Heroes (& Heroines)

This team of heroes clear litter from the verges of Boughton village in Norfolk and the Boughton Fen SSI. From left to right, they are Mick, Paul Coulten (Parish Clerk), Angela Faherty, Bill Beeson and Frank Reid (Parish Chairman)

Sporting the snazziest wellies ever worn for litter picking, the sixth member of the group is Debbie Fisher.

David Hayward

This (left) is a not very good photo of David Hayward who has adopted Buckholt Wood (above) near Birdlip in Gloucestershire. Buckholt is one of the prettiest beech woods in the Cotswolds but it suffers from a lot of littering and fly tipping and was in dire need of a friend.

Norfolk anti-litter group

Members of the Norfolk CPRE Anti-litter Group are pictured here in action clearing litter from a layby on the A11.
NB. The CPRE deserve a great deal of credit for being one of the few organisations addressing the issue of rural litter.

Paul Wiley, Chairman CPRE Norfolk Anti-Litter Group, nominated David Kemp (left) as an outstanding Litter Hero for his work clearing litter from around Norwich.

Angela and Martin Walters

Angela and Martin pick up litter from around Princes Risborough in Buckinghamshire. Martin is pictured here with one session's haul from Wardrobe Lane.

Andrew Milburn

This Andrew Milburn a great Litter Hero from Great Ayton in North Yorkshire. In the background is Roseberry Topping a local landmark and National Trust site that Andy has adopted and keeps clear of litter (it's a beautiful spot - I've been up it). In an email Andy says "Some times I feel as if I have totally lost the plot and tend to go picking early to avoid people as I have a young son 12 yrs old and I would not like any ridicule to be directed his way". Well, I think Andy's son has every reason to be proud of his father - it does actually take a bit of courage to go litter picking.

Other Groups and Indivuals

If you know of a hero or group of heroes who should be mentioned here, please let me know.

Copyright © Tim Barnes 2008