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Civic Awards honour the pride of Thame
For the second year running, the Civic Awards have recognised members of Thame's community who have helped to make it the town that it is today.
While allotment chairman Ken Jones was recognised for his Lifetime Achievement to the community, other winners were postman Chris Whitmore, Tom Eaton of Definition of Faith, lollipop lady Linda Chown and Thame's Citizens Advice Bureau. CAROLINE SIMPSON reports.
Their Thame's quiet heroes and heroines. The people who can
brighten our days with a simple smile and have helped to make the town the place it is today.
Last Thursday night, five people received the ultimate accolade from their community - a Civic Award - having been nominated by the public.
The presentations were made by the town mayor, Cllr Adam Buckland,
at a ceremony at the Barns Centre, on Thursday night.
For one woman it was an especially emotional, and proud, evening.
Gladys Jones collected the Lifetime Achiever award on behalf of her late
husband, Ken, who died earlier this year.
Ken was a familiar face to many having worked in Thame's Co-op store for 45 years - manager for 20 of those. However, it was in his retirement that he really shone. Ken dedicated time and passion
to the allotments at Stones Close. He soon became chairman of the allotments, always performed allocating plots sensitively and efficiently, his cooperative values and community spirit shone through .
Ken and his wife could be found at the allotments most days of the
week.
Largely responsible for gaining 147 plots on the site, people always knew that support and advice was nearby when his distinctive green and white van was parked outside .
Gladys , of Conduit Hill Rise, said: "Ken would have been surprised to
have won this award since he was just following his passion. He loved the allotments and gave them his all but didn't think of it like that when he was alive, its just what he loved to do.
"He was a very generous man with his time. Outside of the allotments
where we live, Ken gave a lot of his time to the youngsters on the street. He became like a Grandad to them all, helping them out and generally spending time with them."
POSTIE Chris Whitmore was on collection rather than deliveries when he proudly picked up his award for Service with a Smile.
Chris, 58, joined the Royal Mail 17 years ago and says he has been delivering letters to the residents of Thame for so long, he now regards them as his friends.
"I know everyone so it's a really sociable job. I go in, hand them their post and have a chat with them about their day and what's going on. I basically get to go around saying hello and joke about with everyone I know, it's great."
Prior to joining the postal service, the father of five was the landlord at the Cross Keys pub on Park Street for 12 years.
Managing the pub with his wife Anne, his career then took a diversion when the pair gave up the pub in 1994.
Chris is proud to be a postman. "I'm quite chuffed to be recognised for what is just my job though as I haven't done anything other than be myself.
"It's so nice to know that people appreciate not just what
I do, but who I am."
Talking about how he keeps his cheery disposition, he said: "Everyone has bad days but you just got to get on with it and carry on smiling.
"I think its about sharing happiness, otherwise everyone's
moaning and groaning.
"It's about lightening up and realising that it's a good day, I'm lucky to be healthy and alive."
Commending lollypop lady and all-round good citizen Linda Chown, Mayor Adam Buckland read from her nomination paper.
"An unsung hero who has made a significant contribution
to their neighbours or community.
"She has been doing this very worthwhile job, come rain or shine, for 20 years.
"She is totally reliable and it is a great relief to any parents and grandparents to know their children can cross the road safely.
"She is a lovely caring person and many people have reason to be grateful to her for all she does for them in addition to her crossing patrol duties."
Teenager Tom Eaton was recognised for his contributions to the Definition of Faith community group.
The 18 year old acted as vice president for the Christian youngsters,
whose aim is do more for their community, by carrying out simple
acts of kindness for anyone they can find.
Tom was nominated by his best friend Alex Feuchwanger, who founded
the DoF group in 2008, for acting as his 'right-hand man' for the past few years before stepping into the role of president this year.
Tom said: "We go around and help people where we and when we can.
We cleared up people's gardens last summer and painted the swings and
roundabouts in Elms Park, a job that might otherwise not got done for a
while.
"We helped the elderly put up washing lines out and clear up any rubbish or weeds they were unable to."
Another community project that Tom organised within Thame was his
production of The Pillow Men Lord Williams's school. Proceeds raised
went to charity.
"I was surprised to hear I had won at first because I wasn't even aware I had been nominated," Tom said. "We want to encourage people to act on good faith, and put a positive light on young people."
Mayor Adam Buckland praised Thame's Citizens Advice Bureau for helping
around 150 people a month.
"This organisation has existed in Thame for 31 years," he said. "It has an outreach in Wheatley and also sees clients from the Aylesbury
area."
Though part of a national organisation every office is autonomous and has to find its own running costs.
Mayor Buckland continued: "The advisers, receptionists and administrators are all volunteers, enabling the organisation to open
every week day. Advice is given on every conceivable subject but especially issues surrounding employment, debt, housing and relationship
difficulties.
"This award not only rewards the staff's tireless work but will help to publicise that work to potential clients."
The is the second year for Thame's Civic Awards, which are run by the
town council. Summing up the importance of the new event, Mayor Buckland, said: "I have lost count of the times a certain word has been mentioned tonight and that word of course is community. It is what everyone is part of but something that we all help to create.
"Go out into that community and recruit likeminded people to help us in
our goal of making Thame a town we can all be proud of...ask not what your town can do for you, ask what you can do for your town."
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Wednesday 08 February 2012
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