I once referred to him as the Polyfacetic' because he possesses the ability to switch effortlessly and efficiently from one task, activity, or profession to another. If you examine the following list, you will have the chance to see for yourself how accurate my observation was. I am referring to Grenville Gilbert.

Grenville previously served as a public servant and worked as a town and county planning lawyer at East Devon District Council. He studied law at the University of Exeter and has a strong interest in it, but he wishes that he had pursued his passion for philosophy instead.

Additionally, he has studied theology and philosophy and continues to do so, as these subjects inspire his poetry. An active member of the Ottery Writers he produces the Poetry Showcase each month in the Ottery Gazette.

Grenville has written poems for the late Queen and a poem for King Charles’ Coronation for which he was recognized by the palace. His first book was 'More Honest to God' and his latest is a children's story called 'The Jurassic Family', which is about some mischievous and impolite dinosaurs!

Grenville is a member of the Ottery Fffocus group. Although it's a ladies-only group, Grenville is involved in it as a driver. They organize a quite famous - or infamous - Christmas party every year at The Tumbling Weir Hotel, where Grenville and the vicar usually dress up as Father Christmas.

Being a person who is deeply committed to the Church of England, 10 years ago Grenville and Fiona Rimmer established a group they named 'Coffee and Chat' that held meetings in the Dorset Aisle. However, Grenville has now decided to step down and let other experienced coffee makers take over the group leadership. The transition has been smooth, and the group is continuing without interruption. When I heard the news, I reached out to Grenville to learn more about the group. As usual, his excellent sense of humour made the story even more interesting.

"If you were to ask the mature and wise folks of Ottery St. Mary, 'What is your greatest wish in life now?' the answer would often be 'good company.' Being alone is a miserable experience and is widely recognised as one of the biggest problems in our society. Ten years ago, Fiona and I, then Churchwardens of Ottery St Mary Parish Church, decided to do something about the situation. And so, 'Coffee and Chat' was born.

"Open to everyone, whether young parents or mature individuals, religious or not, 'Coffee and Chat' became an instant (sorry about the coffee pun!) hit. Serving some of the best coffee in Ottery St. Mary, appropriately called 'Coffee for Angels', it provides a warm and friendly atmosphere where people can indulge in conversations and laughter. Cakes are often enjoyed, especially on birthdays! 'Warm', 'friendly', 'welcoming' and 'kindly' are some of the words that come to mind when describing 'Coffee and Chat'.

"Every Tuesday morning from 10am to 11:30am, you can attend 'Coffee and Chat' in the Parish Church. The aim of this gathering is to help you feel much better when you leave the building than when you entered it. There is no fee to attend, but contributions (including cake) are always appreciated. So, if you ever feel lonely or at a loose end, please come and taste the coffee.”

On April 10th 'Coffee and Chat' celebrated its 10th birthday with special birthday cakes, a short speech from Rev Lydia, the Vicar, and a few words from Grenville (albeit, Grenville, being a retired lawyer, does not do few words)! Without a doubt, Grenville and his exceedingly good jokes – sorry about the cake pun - will be missed dearly.

On behalf of Grenville and his wife Marion's many friends, I would like to wish them a happy retirement. Who knows, maybe soon enough I'll be writing about another one of Grenville's "polyfacetic" adventures.