WEST NORFOLK: Honours for the dedicated volunteers
The Mayor's Civic Awards for Voluntary Service. Borough Mayor Geoffrey Wareham with Vice Lord-Lieutenant, The Countess of Romney (sitting) and Deputy Mayor Garry Sandell (standing) with recipients of awards.
The dedicated work of volunteers who in many different ways have improved the quality of life for people across West Norfolk was recognised at a civic ceremony to say “thank you” this week.
At Lynn Town Hall on Tuesday, guests gathered to hear about the good work carried out by these devoted community stalwarts at the Mayor’s Civic Awards for Voluntary Service 2012.
Accounts were given of years of loyal service by busy people who willingly gave up their free time just to make a difference to benefit someone else.
Some were fundraisers, some shared their skills to help others and some rolled up their sleeves and got stuck in where needed.
Each recipient was presented with a special certificate by Borough Mayor Geoffrey Wareham marking their contribution to community life in the area. Here are their stories:
Marianne Charles
Marianne, of Holme, has been in charge of the garden at the Norfolk Hospice, Tapping House, for more than ten years and during that time has almost single-handedly developed the gardens, creating a therapeutic experience for patients with her choice of design and plants, creating colours and fragrance.
Michael and Wendy Foot
The Walpole St Peter couple lost their son, Robert, when he died of leukaemia in 2002. Since then they have devoted themselves to raising funds to help those suffering with cancer and set up the Robert Foot Leukaemia Fund as a registered charity. To date they have raised over £139,000.
Ian Hall
Ian, of Grimston, has been the cub scout leader of the 8th King’s Lynn Scout Group since 1982 and the scouter in charge since 1997. He has promoted scouting within the local community, focused on providing an active programme for cubs and supported young leaders who have all successfully completed their adult training.
Kate Howard
Kate, of Snettisham, has been volunteering for Norfolk Hospice, Tapping House, for seven years, helping regularly at the charity shop in the village and also as a day care volunteer. She has shown great patience and compassion, particularly in the care of a patient suffering from Motor Neurone Disease.
Sylvia Lee
She has been a Heacham Parish Library volunteer for more than ten years during which time she has never missed a shift. Her role has included checking books in and out and ensuring new customers get their Norlink cards. She has also used her book-keeping skills to help Heacham Bowling Club.
Jean McLoughlin
Jean has worked as a volunteer for Heacham Parish Library for more than nine years, working on her own in the library, issuing books and offering advice on the free internet access available. She is also a volunteer for the Arthur Levin Day Centre at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
Mik Ranger
Mik has served the 12th King’s Lynn scout group from 1969. His roles include District Scout Leader, Assistant District Commissioner for Scouts and Deputy District Commissioner. He helped set up a scout band, volunteers for a scout group for people with special needs and supports the Open the Book club which takes Bible stories into primary schools.
Edith Reeves
Edith helped set up the Friends of The Walks in 2005 which aims to improve and maintain the Lynn park. As secretary she takes minutes of all the meetings and deals with the administration. She has been a Town Guide for
six years and is a steward for Red
Mount Chapel and South Gate.
Pat and lesley Richardson
They have thrown themselves into keeping Hunstanton looking its best. Pat joined the Hunstanton in Bloom scheme in 2007 and was soon joined by his wife, Lesley. Together they planted half-a-mile of cornflowers along the A149 which impressed the judges. He is warden of the Hunstanton Community Orchard.
Gill Southgate
Gill, who has been blind since she was 18, is chairman of the King’s Lynn and District Guide Dogs Association and has been a speaker on its behalf for more than 25 years. She has helped to organise numerous fundraising events which on average bring in over £20,000 a year.
Ian and Patricia Steel
The Snettisham couple have been volunteers of Norfolk Hospice, Tapping House for five years and have made a significant impact with their IT expertise. They take care of the hospice website, act as IT advisers to staff and set up the Living IT Project for patients in their homes.
Martin Swale
Martin has contributed to East Rudham community in numerous ways, including being a volunteer driver for the Great Massingham Area Community Car Scheme, an organiser of the Rudhams prescription service and a case worker for SSAFA Forces. He has served the scouts movement for many years and was County Commissioner for Norfolk for seven years.
Chrissie Warnes
Chrissie, of Great Massingham, has been involved in raising funds for numerous good causes, including Macmillan Cancer Support, the village Christmas lights, the community car scheme, for which she is a volunteer driver, and last year’s Diamond Jubilee street party. She also helps at the village hall bingo sessions.
Amanda Williams
She has worked tirelessly as treasurer of Upwell Village Hall since it was bought by the parish council in 1996. She organises annual Christmas Craft fairs and has single-handedly raised over £13,000. She does the hall’s book-keeping, runs the 200 club and organises fun days at Easter.
Eileen Madren,
Ann Rasberry
and Kathleen Roberts
They have turned around the fortunes of Gayton’s Jubilee Hall. They became charity trustees in 2007 faced with problems left by previous management, rolled up their sleeves to clean it and secured vital funding for renovation so the hall is now enjoyed by numerous organisations. Over the last five years the hall has gone from strength to strength due to their continuing hard work and commitment.
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Saturday 18 May 2013
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