The Runnymede Civic Awards
At The Clubhouse, Foxhills on the evening 22nd February, for the first time the Borough held a Civic Awards event. Paul Wade was the MC and he first introduced Councillor Tom Gracey, the Leader of the Council. The Lord Lieutenant of Surrey, Michael More-Molyneux, then spoke about the benefits of sport for the individual and the community, before presenting the Sports Awards to:
Young Sportsperson of the Year: Emily Bowles-Trow GB canoeist.
Coach of the Year: Kyle Francis, Runnymede Basketball.
Changing Lives Award: Nick and Carol Reed, Addlestone Canoe Club.
Club of the Year: Core Judo at Thorpe Green Sports Club.
Outstanding Sports Personality Award: Hannah Russell OBE, Paralympic and British swimming.
The Arts Awards were presented by the High Sheriff after he said a few words about the pleasures the arts bring to people, whether through painting, fiction or non-fiction writing, poetry or acting.
The awards were for:
Community Writer of the Year: Mary Hammond, Editor of the Community Life magazine.
Young Artist of the Year: Alex Zhurba, aged 16, from Ukraine, his exhibition of art raising funds for children in his home country.
Young Performer of the Year: Lorna Chinyani, acting and singing at school.
Arts Group of the Year: The Chertsey Pantomine, raising money, Woking and Sam Beare Hospice.
The Community Awards were jointly presented by local MP Ben Spencer and Councillor Margaret Harnden, Mayor of Runnymede. They were:
Services to Runnymede Council Tenants: Jenny Hill, for over 20 years of helping tenants.
Environmentalist and Climate Change Award: Hare Hill Open Space Volunteers.
Triumph over Adversity Award: Louise McGarr, fundraising for defibrillators.
Young Volunteer of the Year: Rosie Williams-Taylor, fundraising for mental health charities.
David Playfoot, volunteer at the EIKON charity.
Volunteer Group of the Year: HeBrews, preventing food waste, and providing lunches.
Volunteer of the Year: Oksana Belcher, a Ukrainian giving voluntary support to Ukrainians.
Service to the Community:
Individual: Dennis Brown, The Egham Band for over 50 years.
Organisation: Egham Rangers, 20 girl guides serving their community.
The decision to make such awards was inspired. Every recipient, or those commended, deserved the recognition they received at this event. There was surprise, pride and a great feeling of community spirit engendered by the making of these awards and commendations. Do other Surrey Boroughs or Districts have such awards?
