Civic Award winners announced

Posted by Town Hall Staff 15 May 2020

FELIXSTOWE TOWN COUNCIL CIVIC AWARDS 2020.

Felixstowe Town Council is delighted to announce the winners of their annual Civic Awards, at the culmination of Cllr Nick Barber’s term as the Mayor of Felixstowe for 2019-20.

With the usual awards ceremony having been cancelled earlier in the year and unable to take place, the Mayor is arranging to safely deliver the awards direct to the winners. (This page will be updated with photos of the winners when available).

The winners were:

Mayor’s Awards

Maurice Barber

For his outstanding contribution over many years to The Felixstowe Society of Allotment & Leisure Gardeners, following his decision to retire as its Chairman this year.

Lyn Osborne

For her dedication to Felixstowe Area Community Transport (FACTS) as a volunteer and the organiser of a monthly lunch club for up to 50 passengers who may not otherwise have the chance to socialise.

Valerie Norman

For her work in forming the group ‘Lung at Heart’ 6 years ago and supporting over 40 local people to regularly meet, exercise and socialise in addition to her role as staff nurse, caring patients with lung disease at Ipswich Hospital.

David Tennant  

For his stalwart volunteer work with Felixstowe Art Group, Old Felixstowe Carpet Bowls and for running, together with his wife (NAME?), the M.E. and Fibromyalgia group ‘Positive Pals’.

Joy Reeve

Joy has opened her beach hut and, with her friend Karen Kenny, served refreshments to the public for a number of years, inviting donations which have raised thousands of pounds for different charities.

Felixstowe Community Award 2020:

Felixstowe Community Radio

For their dedication to community broadcasting in Felixstowe for over 10 years, giving local presenters the opportunity to keep the community up to date with major events, local business activities, charities, voluntary groups, musicians, and artists.

HMS Ganges Youth Trophy:

Guy Comber

Guy was recognised for overcoming extreme adversity in his early years and his volunteering with the Felixstowe Volunteer Coast Patrol Rescue Service, which benefitted from his crucial involvement in the rescue of three people in serious need.

The Mayor of Felixstowe for 2019-20, Cllr Nick Barber, said: “Though the circumstances put paid to our usual ceremony, we wanted to make sure that our nominees were not overlooked and were still able to be celebrated for their fantastic efforts leading up to the awards. We always have a difficult task in selecting winners from all the worthy nominations, but it is a privilege to be able to recognise our local heroes in this small way.

Looking forward, given the amazing and ongoing community response to the coronavirus pandemic, I am sure that my successor will find it an impossible job selecting from next year’s nominees. We are so lucky to live in such a remarkable town.”

Nominations will be sought for the 2021 Civic Awards in due course, so if you would like to nominate a Felixstowe resident for outstanding community service to the town, look out for details on the Town Council website soon  www.felixstowe.gov.uk