Community heroes in Thornbury are honoured for their work (From Gazette Series)

Community heroes in Thornbury are honoured for their work

10:46am Thursday 11th June 2009 in Search By Liza-Jane Gillespie

COMMUNITY heroes in Thornbury have had their good deeds rewarded at a special awards ceremony.

Thornbury Rotary Club recently held its first community awards ceremony, after launching the awards earlier this year.

Richard Hiscock, the Rotarian who organised the awards, said: "We are more than pleased with the number of nominations for each category and the standard of the nominees.

"Given the success of these awards in the first year we hope that they can become an annual event."

There were three awards up for grabs, the Community Award, the Charity Award and the Young Community Award.

The Community Award, which acknowledged the voluntary work and commitment of an unsung hero in Thornbury, was presented to Dot Curtis.

Mrs Curtis is a member of Thornbury and District Old People's Welfare committee, chairman of Thornbury Diabetics Support Group and is on the Town Trust.

In presenting the award to Juliet Olson, who nominated Mrs Curtis and received the award on her behalf, Ray Carney, Rotary president, said: "Dot has the ability to involve elderly people who can become marginalised. She makes people feel wanted and involved within the community."

This year’s Charity Award, which is for an individual who undertakes tireless work and fundraising for charities, was presented to Paul Emsley in recognition of his commitment to helping disabled people.

Mr Emsley is a trustee of the Blind Charity and is involved in the Anthony Nolan Trust.

The Young Community Award, which honours achievements of people under the age of 18 years who make a positive commitment to local community life, went jointly to Zoe Wide and Liam Scott, both 14, for their contribution to Thornbury Community Broadcasting.

The two Castle School pupils were proposed by Helen Harrison, from Thornbury FM, who commended them for the huge amount of voluntary service to the station, both in presenting shows and working as receptionists.

Mr Carney said: "They have made a major contribution in helping the station consider permanent broadcasting. Their capacity to work under tight deadlines has resulted in uninterrupted broadcasting schedules."