Charity volunteer re-opens Body Shop in Darlington (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

Charity volunteer re-opens Body Shop in Darlington

1:18pm Saturday 9th March 2013 in News By Joanna Morris

THE TIRELESS work of a charity volunteer was celebrated at the re-opening of a popular Darlington shop today (Saturday, March 9).

The Cornmill Centre’s branch of The Bodyshop re-opened this morning after undergoing extensive refurbishment.

It was opened by Ian Whitfield, a local man who has spent years raising money for various charities. Mr Whitfield, who has raised more than £100,000 for Darlington’s St Teresa’s Hospice, was chosen by The Bodyshop as part of a national scheme within their stores to recognise the hard work of volunteers in the community.

Branch manager Jacqui Garbutt said: “What we needed was somebody who was not a celebrity but more of an unsung hero and Mr Whitfield’s name was suggested to us.

"He has done brilliant work and today has more than lived up to his name. He has been collecting for St Teresa’s and is an absolutely lovely guy.”

To celebrate the relaunch of the store, customers were treated to special surprises throughout the day. The first 100 customers through the doors received goody bags and everybody received discount vouchers.

Free skin treatments and hand massages were also offered.

Ms Garbutt said: “It has been a perfect day, absolutely lovely. The Bodyshop does a lot for different charities and today we have been able to support a local one as well as celebrate our reopening. It has been brilliant.”