Citizens honoured (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)
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Citizens honoured
12:07pm Wednesday 18th April 2012 in Local
Community group winner Christine Mace from Athelstan Players, young citizen winner David Cooke and citizen of the year winner Roger Griffin
“Diamond geezers” were honoured at Malmesbury’s Citizen of the Year Awards.
Awards were given for Young Citizen of the Year, Community Group of the Year and Citizen of the Year on Tuesday.
Among the 25 nominees were Amy Pointer, 11, who raised £1,000 by swimming 23 miles for Help for Heroes, and Roger Budgen for his work as chairman of the town’s residents’ association.
Town mayor Steve Cox said: “They are all diamond geezers.
“They have all done great things for the community; they are all winners.”
The Community Group of the Year Award, organised in memory of former councillor Paul Dove who died in July 2010, was presented by his partner Lisa Huntley.
She said: “I want to help people remember Paul and to understand his commitment to the community. This is why Coun Patrick Goldstone and I came up with the idea of the award.
“Paul was very committed to the community and I was very proud of him.”
The winner of the award was the Athelstan Players.
Speaking on behalf of the amateur dramatic group, chairman Christine Mace said: “Can I just say thank you to everybody; it’s a really great honour.
“I know I speak for everybody when I say we are very proud to receive this.
“We raise money by putting on shows for the elderly, at Athelstan House and Glovers Court, which we absolutely love.
“We also have a really strong youth group, which has a waiting list, I might add.”
Other nominees for the award included Oxfam Malmesbury, the Jole Rider bike charity, the abbey bell ringers and the Rajah Indian Restaurant at Market Cross for its fundraising efforts.
Citizen of the Year was won by Roger Griffin, who was nominated for his work at the Athelstan Museum, and who is due to retire this year.
He said: “ I feel very honoured, particularly when I look at the illustrious diamonds here tonight.
“We at the museum hope we make people proud of us and we love the tourists who come here.
“We hope we can serve the town well; thank you very much.”
Fellow nominees included: Coun Catherine Doody; Deborah Gray for her work as chairman of governors at Malmesbury School; and David Pictor for his years of volunteering with Malmesbury Youth Football Club, which he continues to do well in to his 70s.
The Young Citizen of the Year Awards was won by David Cooke for his involvement in numerous fields, including as a Scout leader, as a teacher at the local music academy and for his work with the carnival.
