Unsung heroes recognised at Community Gold Awards (From St Albans & Harpenden Review)

St Albans unsung heroes recognised at Community Gold Awards

12:57pm Friday 11th March 2011 in News By Neil Skinner

THE great and the good of St Albans gathered together last night to celebrate the outstanding work of the city’s many unsung community heroes.

Hard-working charity fundraisers and kind-hearted community volunteers were once again recognised at the Community Gold Awards – organised by Debenhams Ottaway solicitors and the St Albans & Harpenden Review.

Guests gathered at the legal firm’s St Peters Street offices to celebrate the outstanding efforts of ten award winners, each of whom had been nominated by Review readers during 2010.

None had asked for or even expected public thanks for their efforts, but, as Debenhams Ottaway chief executive Ian Hopkins explained, it is only right that their tireless devotion and self-sacrifice is recognised.

He said: “As a business we are very much a part of St Albans and we wanted to recognise those local people who give of their time so generously for the benefit of others.

“These people don’t need any more motivation for the work they do but it is important that we say thank you to them all.”

The winners were greeted by Mayor of St Albans Maxine Crawley, who attended the function as guest of honour.

She said: “This is incredible, it is what my Mayoral year all has been about – recognising those people who aren’t normally recognised. I really am delighted to be presenting these awards.”

As guests enjoyed Champagne and canapés, The Review sought the reaction of each of the eight winners (two were unable to attend) who were present.

Green Belt campaigner Cathy Bolshaw, who has led a five year fight to stop the building of a rail freight terminal near Park Street, said she was “shocked and stunned” by her award, adding: “I didn’t realise that when we started this group we would still be fighting now. But our success so far shows that you can take on these big companies and you can win.

“But I am not accepting this award for myself; I am accepting it for everybody involved in the STRiFE (Stop the Rail Freight Exchange) campaign.

Mary Cutler and Margaret Hill, known affectionately as the M&M campaign group, have raised many thousands of pounds for the Grove House Hospice, which they helped to establish back in 1995.

They said: “We were amazed to be nominated, let alone to win. But Grove House is such a wonderful cause. All the money we raise is spent locally and everybody might well need its services one day. We don’t ask for recognition but this is really great.”

Another hard-working hospice campaigner is Julia Butcher, who was named a winner alongside colleague Angela Wildman for her work with the Keech children’s hospice. Mrs Butcher said: “When I was told about the award I just tingled from head to foot.”

Christmas Knitivity star Ann Hudson, meanwhile, has spent nearly 400 hours knitting a total of 13 woollen figures, which were placed in prominent locations around the city during the festive season to spread the true meaning of Christmas.

Mrs Hudson, who continued the work despite ill health, said: “I am delighted that I have been chosen. It was so wonderful to see so many children enjoying my figures around the city. I hope they will be enjoyed for many years to come.

Andy Rosser, construction tutor at Oaklands College, was collecting an award on behalf of his students, who stepped in to build a wall for an elderly couple who had been fleeced by their builder.

He said: “Young people can get a lot of bad press these days but what these students did to help others was brilliant.”

Steve Gledhill, of the Harpenden Lions services club, was awarded for his stoic determination during a recent run of ill-health, which included prostate cancer, a heart attack and a life changing car accident. He said he was “humbled” by the award and vowed to keep up his excellent community work.

Homeless campaigner and charity worker Tim Fox was recognised jointly for his work in St Albans and in Kenya. “My work gives me a huge sense of fulfilment. I hope as a result of these wards that more people will learn about it.”

Two other award winners, Sandringham headteacher Alan Gray and Saracens Rugby Club Sports Foundation director Gordon Banks could not be present on the night. They were recognised for their commitment to education and children’s sport respectively.