Fitz reveals all at local charity

BBC Radio Devon presenter and local personality David ‘Fitz’ FitzGerald revealed all at the local headquarters of the charity Samaritans - or at least, he revealed two new signs urging people in distress to ‘Talk To Us.’

Fitz was at the central Exeter base of the Exeter, Mid and East Devon Samaritans to unveil the vivid green signs. They help identify the building for people who want to have a face-to-face discussion instead of the more traditional telephone calls, emails and texts answered by the 100 volunteers who run the local branch of the service.

“Almost everyone recognises that the charity operates on the telephone and I wasn’t aware that you met people face to face as well” Fitz told a group of volunteers who welcomed him to the building.

He had a tour of the premises, where in the past year some 42,000 contacts were received from people in distress. The building is on Richmond Road near Exeter’s famous clock tower, and close to where the BBC presenter lived as a child.

“Samaritans do a fantastic job in the community and I know I can say thank you for the work you do as well as thank you for inviting me to unveil the new signs” the popular presenter told volunteers.

“The signs are bright green, the colour of Samaritans across the country, and help us be a recognisable part of the local community. This year we’ve also launched ‘fingerpost’ signs from the city centre to help people reach our building - and when they’re close by they can’t miss where we are now” explains Helen Crossfield, branch director.

The charity provides support to people who are distressed or in despair which may lead to thoughts of suicide. People can talk to us at any time, in their own way and in confidence, about whatever is going on in their life.