RETIRED Newton Abbot GP Mark Clarvis has been given a ‘Big Thank You’ on national television. 

Mark, one of the founders of the Our Pavilion community cafe in Forde Park, was nominated by friends and colleagues for the Big Thank You award from BBC’s The One Show.

He was surprised during a shift at the popular cafe, which is run by and for adults with learning difficulties and special needs, by BBC News podcaster Adam Fleming.

A film of the presentation to Mark, in recognition of his work establishing the cafe and his ongoing involvement, was broadcast on the BBC show last night. 

The footage explained how Mark set out to open the cafe to provide work opportunities and training for people with learning difficulties after he realised there was a need for people like his daughter Charlotte to do something meaningful in the community.

After £50,000 was raised, the cafe opened in 2021 at the disused cricket pavilion in Forde Park. 

Mark, an avid followed of news programmes, was ‘speechless’ on being presented with The One Show award by journalist Adam. 

You can catch up with the film on BBC iPlayer.