Mayor’s Civic Award Winners
The Mayor’s Civic Awards ceremony took place on May 4th at the St James’s Centre in Alnwick. This year 11 people received individual awards and 3 received group awards. The award winners are all people who have been nominated by other residents of Alnwick. The nomination was for their involvement, contribution and dedication to charity work, community participation or voluntary activities.
The Mayor, Bill Grisdale, said “As Mayor it always makes me feel proud when I read through the nomination forms. I think it is extremely important that the town acknowledges and gives formal recognition to our unsung heroes. The people receiving the awards this evening all make their contribution quietly, and make an enormous difference to the lives of many other people and the town of Alnwick”.
The 2015-16 awards
The civic awards are divided in two categories – the youth awards and the general awards.
FULL LIST OF RECIPIENTS:
Youth Award
- Jamie Macaulay
Civic Awards
- Carlo Biagioni
- Margaret Dobbie
- David Farrar
- Rachael Roberts
- Jane Gowland
- Elizabeth Jones
- Mark Longstaff
- Jonathan Park
- Ron Bernstein
- Jim Thompson
Group Awards
- 2nd Alnwick Rangers
- Alnwick Civic Society
- Royal Voluntary Service (Alnwick)
The Mayor said a few words about each person or group who had been nominated before handing out certificates.
The Youth Civic Award winner was nominated by the Duchess Community High School and went to Jamie Macaulay.
Jamie is a Year 12 student at Duchess High School. He is an outstanding organiser for the school and the community. He is a member of the Youth Parliament and has organised voting within the school for this. An excellent musician, he is a key member of the school Ceilidh Band, has played in concerts for school and the wider community, and just recently organised successful fundraising and a ceilidh in the school to raise money for the Teenage Cancer Trust. He is also an excellent student, respected by both peers and staff alike, the proof of this being that he is one of the six students voted to become our Senior Students when we move to the school in September and, as part of this, was interviewed for Head Boy. He manages to achieve all this with an infectious enthusiasm and was recommended wholeheartedly for an award.
For his contribution and dedication to the school and the wider community, his fundraising for the Teenage Cancer Trust and his infectious enthusiasm JAMIE MACAULAY received a Mayor’s Youth Civic Award.
General civic awards
Winners of the Mayor’s Civic Awards for 2015/16 receiving their awards on May 4th
The first recipient was Ron Berstein. Ron has lived in Alnwick for over 6 years and has always been an active member of Alnwick society. Firstly, he is an active volunteer and trustee of the Aln Valley Railway having been involved since October 2012. This year he has been involved in the summer fayre, the Halloween ghost train and general work and restoration. Secondly, Ron is committee chairperson for the Northumberland Support Group for Parkinsons UK. On April 17th he raised in excess of £600 by zip wiring across the River Tyne dressed as Batman with his daughter dressed as Robin. The story of this daring feat was captured on the front of the Gazette last week. I’m glad he didn’t wear the outfit for tonight’s award ceremony. As if that wasn’t enough Ron also has a position as a radio presenter with a Lionheart Radio. He has two shows and presents a mix of music, interviews with local interest and other features. Ron is always very positive and devotes his life to helping and bringing happiness and care to as many people as he possible can. He was described on his nomination form as unflappable and unstoppable.
For his commitment to Alnwick through his involvement, continued dedication and volunteer work with Aln Valley Railway, Parkinson UK and Lionheart Radio RON BERSTEIN received a Mayor’s Civic Award.
The next award went to Carlo Biagioni
Carlo Biagioni was one of the people who, along with Jonathan Park, another winner here tonight pulled of a coup earlier this year. A new project called the Great Alnwick Raffle 2016. Proceeds from this venture went to Alnwick in Bloom and the Carlo helped organise the sale of tickets to the traders around the town. They all responded magnificently and bought over £3,000 worth of tickets. They also supported the raffle with generous prizes. The raffle was drawn at a Gala Event which was organised by Carlo and Jonathan and hosted by the White Swan. This raised another amazing £1,750. All the money will be used to improve Alnwick’s ambience. The example of the raffle is only one of the things Carlo is involved in within the town. He is an active member of the Chamber of Trade and the Town Team. He is a great supporter of Alnwick and is keen to support anything that will make the town more attractive and welcoming to visitors and its residents.
For his on-going support to projects which enhance the town and for instigating new initiatives to promote Alnwick as a Garden town CARLO BIAGIONI received a Mayor’s Civic Award.
The next award went to Margaret Dobbie
Margaret (or Ruth as some people know her) is someone who has supports a number of activities around Alnwick. When you hear what she is involved in you ask yourself “how does she find the time”. But she does and with great effect as she commits herself 100% to everything she does. She is an active member of the Alnwick Baptist Church. She acts as a steward, supervises the Children’s Creche and sometimes stewards at St Michael’s. She helps at a food bank, visits patients on a weekly basis as a Hospital Visitor at Alnwick Infirmary. She is also Secretary / Treasurer of the Alnwick Branch of Arthritis Care and organises the monthly meetings, providing food, raffle prizes and usually a speaker or other form of entertainment. In fact the Mayor himself was nabbed by Margaret to give a talk at the May meeting on “my year as Mayor”. Margaret also runs a weekly day centre for Age UK and the pensioners who attend get a home cooked meal of their choice, cooked by Margaret and other helpers. Margaret is Alnwick born and bred and believes in giving back to the community in which she lives.
For her continued commitment to Alnwick through her work with the church, local hospital visits, Arthritis Care and Age UK MARGARET DOBBIE received a Mayor’s Civic Award.
The next awards went to David Farrar and Rachael Roberts
David and Rachael are Alnwick residents and strong community activists. In their time in Alnwick, both Rachael and David have taken on numerous volunteering roles within their community. These include being ushers at the Alnwick Playhouse (Rachael was also a trustee at the Playhouse), members of the Friends of the Bullfield Community Orchard (where they have held executive roles and helped to organise tree planting and maintenance, as well as fundraising and many fun activities). Both are members of Alnwick Area Friends of the Earth and Transition Alnwick. They have played a significant part in the development of the Alnwick and Denwick Neighbourhood Plan. They were part of the Steering Group and were topic leads for the environment section of the plan. They are passionate about the environment, and their enthusiasm and dedication to that cause has made Alnwick a more environmentally-aware place, especially when we consider the challenges that lie ahead of us due to climate change.
For their enthusiasm and dedication to make Alnwick a more environmentally aware place to live and work DAVID FARRAR and RACHAEL ROBERTS receive a Mayor’s Civic Awards. David was unable to attend the ceremony but Rachael accepted both awards on their behalf.
The next award went to Jane Gowland
Jane lives at Column Cottage and has continued to vastly improve this extremely visible focal point of Alnwick. Having cleared and replanted a derelict garden to the rear of the cottage she then agreed to extend her management to the front which was in dire need of updating. Normally this could be taken just as the successes of a keen gardener but here Jane, as a tenant, has poured an enormous amount of effort into making Column Cottages Gardens a charming and a vital site. Last Christmas again Jane pushed the boundaries and decorated the front lawn and her cottage with a delightful monochromatic display of Christmas lights. I know the display bought a smile to everyone who walked or drove passed and it warmed up many a cold day with its charm and effectiveness. Jane has proved to be the unseen ambassadress for Alnwick.
For improving an extremely visible focal point in Alnwick by clearing and planting a derelict garden and being a true ambassadress for Alnwick JANE GOWLAND received a Mayor’s Civic Award.
The next award went to Elizabeth Jones
Elizabeth is involved in a number of community groups and always seems to be ‘doing something’. She is truly a stalwart of Alnwick society. No-one works harder behind the scenes to contribute to Alnwick’s attractiveness through its green spaces than Elizabeth. As chairperson of Alnwick in Bloom she has been involved in the development of many ‘green’ projects around the town including the Bus Station, Pottergate Gardens, the Pinfold, Column Field and the verges along Greenwell Road. She is proactive in her support of funding applications on behalf of Alnwick in Bloom, giving a very detailed account of their work to the Town Council as part of their annual grant application. Elizabeth’s dedication inspiration and energy and her timeless involvement have already produced gold medals for the town.
For her dedication, inspiration, energy and her tireless involvement behind the scenes which contribute to Alnwick’s attractiveness through its green spaces ELIZABETH JONES received a Mayor’s Civic Award.
The next award went to Mark Longstaff
Mark Longstaff has worked in Alnwick for some years both as a gardener and groundsman. He provides the meticulous and reliable standard of execution which accords so well with the presentation of our pocket parks and open spaces. Seemingly unsurmountable challenges have been tackled with can-do fortitude and speed. When giving advice Mark always takes a modest path which involves very economical and affordable outlays. Mark’s involvement is an invaluable component in the attractiveness of Alnwick for both the visitors and our residents and in no small way contributes to the town’s continuing excellent successes in the Northumbria in Bloom Competitions.
For his continued meticulous and reliable standard of horticultural care within Alnwick’s pocket parks and open spaces and his can do attitude MARK LONGSTAFF received a Mayor’s Civic Award.
The next award went to Jonathan Park
Jonathan was a special award winner as he received three nominations for a Civic Award. He works at the Halifax Bank and is always willing to ‘get stuck in’ as one of his nominators put it. Jonathan not only spends his time organising planting, raising funds and communicating with the various bodies of Alnwick and he, unlike many of his peers, is also happy to pick up a spade! He makes a significant contribution to Alnwick through his fundraising, in order to provide planting in the town. This began when he and his work colleagues gave “A day to make a difference” when the Halifax Bank provided funding for plants at the entrance to the Alnwick Garden. Since then areas along Greenwell Road have now been prepared and planted up by Jonathan. Jonathan has been one of the key people in raising the profile of the town as being a ‘Garden Town’, to spread the planting from The Alnwick Garden into the town. He worked in partnership with Carlo earlier this year to organize The Great Alnwick Raffle 2016, the proceeds of which will go to Alnwick in Bloom to improve Alnwick and make it a more attractive place.
For his continued enthusiasm to horticultural projects within the town and his on-going support of new initiatives to promote Alnwick as a Garden town JONATHAN PARK received a Mayor’s Civic Award.
The next award went to Jim Thompson
Jim has demonstrated significant involvement and given dedicated community service to the benefit of Alnwick since the 1970s. He was joint leader at St Michaels Church Youth Club and a founder member of the Alnwick Lions. Jim helped organise the very first Alnwick Music Festival, leading to him being elected Chairperson and being involved for 26 years. In his role as Fire & Rescue Officer Jim moved away briefly but returned to work for Northumberland Fire & Rescue for over 30 year before retiring. Jim is a member and past Chairman of Alnwick Round Table; a member of Rotary and has been past president and is currently Chairman of Alnwick Abbeyfields Care Home which through his guidance and help of his committee is now full with a waiting list. Jim has given a tremendous amount of his time over many years to help others and still continues to give help and advice and is always willing to give assistance to others whenever he can.
For his significant involvement and dedicated community service to the benefit of the town and his willingness to give assistance to others JIM THOMPSON received a Mayor’s Civic Award.
Group Awards
The last three awards went to groups and the first of these went to the 2nd Alnwick Rangers who received a Mayor’s Youth Award.
Although the Rangers could have been nominated for a number of reasons including the way they represent the town during the Remembrance Day parade. Or for their help with the town clean up days. They always send volunteers to help and have always done a great job. But it was for the way the Rangers took on a share in an allotment and began preparing the ground and removing glass and debris from the site that they were nominated. The rangers showed great commitment and hard work in helping to clear the Community Allotment at Ratten Row in Alnwick. They helped to clear large areas of particularly difficult ground that had been neglected for many years creating flower and vegetable beds that Monty Don would be proud of! They organised a range of fundraising activities including face painting and bag packing and money raised helped buy materials to build two raised beds and they have created a wildflower patch with bee friendly flowers. Having put in a lot of effort into the clearing of the allotment they are also able to enjoy the benefits. Having a safe place to light their bonfires and enjoy the night skies whilst plotting what to do next.
For their on-going support around Alnwick and their help to establish a Community Allotment the 2ND ALNWICK RANGERS received A Mayor’s Civic Award.
The 2nd team award went to the Royal Voluntary Service (Alnwick)
The Royal Voluntary Service (Alnwick) have been nominated for their work at St Paul’s Residential Nursing Home in Alnwick. Martyn Tuckwell and his wife Jan together with the entire team of unpaid volunteers provide support and their selfless dedication to those in their later years dependent on others for quality of life is outstanding and exemplary. As their nominator said ”one could not wish for better, more imaginative, comprehensive or friendly support. The team does not seek recognition from the world outside this care home, but deserves it”. The residents themselves would endorse this, as would their relatives and the professional carers themselves, from whose own excellent work it in no way detracts but rather complements perfectly.
For their dedication to those in their later years by offering imaginative, comprehensive and friendly support the ROYAL VOLUNTARY SERVICE (ALNWICK) receive a Civic Award.
The final Civic team award went to the ALNWICK CIVIC SOCIETY.
Formed in 1974 the society work hard to ensure that development proposals, especially in the town centre and conservation area, protect and enhance the heritage of Alnwick. Its members share demonstrate pride in our town, and spread the word about the value of the work they undertake. They encourage good practice and raise awareness of the value of our townscape. They were heavily involved in the development of the Alnwick and Denwick Neighbourhood Plan. The society is also involved in the development of trails which explore the historic townscape of Alnwick. Members of Alnwick Civic Society believe that there can be a better balance between the needs of drivers and pedestrians, and are confident that the implementation of more of their recommendations would improve the quality of the townscape, and benefit those who visit, live and work in Alnwick.
For their commitment to maintain, protect and enhance Alnwick’s heritage for visitors and residents the ALNWICK CIVIC SOCIETY receive a Mayor’s Civic Award.
The Mayor ended by thanking all the award winners for their involvement, dedication and contribution to our town and its community. He said that they each made Alnwick a better place to work and live and helped change the lives of many other people.
He was grateful to be able to recognise people, some of whom overcome enormous personal challenges themselves who are making a real difference to the lives of other people around them.
Their stories were inspiring and their achievements gave pleasure and immense pride to know that Alnwick will continue to be a better place thanks to them.