TWO Crediton buskers are celebrating their 70th birthdays by singing and swimming along the coasts of Devon this summer while raising money for charity. 

Paul Watts and Hazel Underwood, known as the “Sagalouts”, who can often be found busking in Crediton Town Square or running folk sessions at The Lamb Inn in Sandford, are collecting for Hospiscare, a local charity that looks after people with terminal illnesses. 

They said: “We’re celebrating reaching the grand age of 70 by combining some of the things we love: singing, promoting folk music, swimming, supporting a local charity and exploring Devon! 

“We'll be busking for Hospiscare, a great charity based in Exeter providing respite and end-of-life care, both within a hospice and at home.” 

The couple started at Clovelly on Wednesday, June 12. Their route goes east along the north coast to Lynmouth, and they will be back in Crediton for its “big busking day” on Saturday, June 22. 

They will then continue from Seaton moving west along the south coast to finish at Plymouth on Monday, July 8. 

They are inviting others to join them for their daily busk, either to participate or listen, with an optional sea swim afterwards.  

The music they play includes folk and popular songs with voice, guitar and concertina. 

“We are honoured that Paul and Hazel have chosen to celebrate their 70th birthdays by fundraising for Hospiscare,” Sharon Collins, the charity’s area fundraiser for Exeter and Mid Devon said. 

“The couple are well known in the Crediton area for raising a smile with their songs and I hope the community will rally around them to raise vital funds for our local hospice. 

“We are facing a £2.5 million funding deficit this year and fundraising endeavours like Hazel and Paul’s birthday busk are more important than ever before in ensuring that we can continue providing specialist end-of-life care at no cost to our patients and their families.” 

Usually, as little as 18 per cent of Hospiscare’s funding comes from the NHS. 

This means the charity, which supports more than 2,200 patients and their families in Devon each year, has to rely on public donations to raise the remainder of the £10 million it needs annually. 

The NHS gave it a funding boost earlier this year of £480,000, pushing up the 18 per cent figure to 24 per cent. 

However, it was still forced to scale back its services in April due to its funding deficit, cutting bed numbers from 12 to 8 and reducing its weekend community nursing service. 

CEO Andrew Randall has urged the public to keep supporting the charity, saying “your support has never been more vital”. 

Hospiscare has four sites in Exeter, Honiton, Tiverton and Exmouth. It also provides care in patients’ homes. 

If you would like to donate to Mr Watts and Ms Underwood’s fundraiser, you can visit their JustGiving page here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/70thbirthdaybusk. 

For details of where they will be and when, see Pennymoor Singaround on Facebook or email [email protected].