WITH snow being predicted this weekend, presenter and former Andover pub landlord Dickie Davies returned to the area to raise a cuppa to a campaign to help vulnerable people survive the freezing temperatures.

The former ITV sports presenter visited the White Hart pub, in Wallop, on a frosty Wednesday to spread the message about the Surviving Winter Campaign.

With temperatures set to plummet even further this weekend, the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Community Foundation’s campaign urges those who can forgo their £200 winter fuel allowance payment to donate it to people who struggle to heat their homes.

Dickie, who lived in Orange Lane, in Over Wallop, for 25 years, said: “There are an awful lot of people who can afford to manage without the money they are receiving.

“It would be a noble gesture to give it to the foundation and they will give it to the people that need it.”

Dickie met with regular attendees of the pub’s coffee morning to talk about the scheme, which sees the donated payments distributed by the CAB to vulnerable older people.

Mayor of Test Valley Councillor Dorothy Baverstock was also there to show her support.

She said: “I am really pleased to be supporting the Surviving Winter Campaign by coming along to the coffee morning in order to spread the word, and let people know how easy it is to donate their winter fuel to those older vulnerable people who really need it.”

Foundation ambassador Dickie owned The Globe pub, in High Street, Andover, in 1962 for four years, where he turned it into a lounge bar and restaurant.

The sports presenter moved to Over Wallop in 1972 and his mum worked at the Five Bells, in Nether Wallop.

For more details, visit hantscf.org.

uk, call 01256 776101 or email hiwcfadmin@ hantscf.org.uk.