Civic Awards celebrate community champions

UNSUNG heroes of Frome were celebrated at the annual town meeting this month, when the Mayor of Frome, councillor Kate Bielby, handed out civic awards to four of the town’s most dedicated volunteers.

The awards were handed out to bus campaigner Tracey Harding; outdoor spaces volunteer Sue Everett; Active and In Touch’s Lucia Chadwick; and Frome Town Youth Band manager Jim Boulter.

Tracey Harding, a founding member of Frome and Villages Bus Users’ Group (FAVBUG), was awarded for her untiring  work trying to protect bus services in Frome and Somerset.

Cllr Bielby said, “Tracey has campaigned relentlessly and with huge determination and encyclopaedic knowledge, to protect vital bus services for people in and around our community for whom those services are a lifeline.

“It must often feel like battling a tide of budget squeezes and cuts, but she’s continued to get results, make links with other bus user groups, keep Frome’s going, and make a noise not just in Shepton Mallet and Taunton, but also at Westminster.”

Sue Everett was awarded for her work at the Dippy and with the Mount and Marsden Community Association.

“Sue is an ecologist and sustainability expert and we’re incredibly lucky that she lives in Keyford ward,” said cllr Bielby. “Her drive, expertise and dedication have been key to transforming and maintaining the Dippy.

“Not satisfied with that, her commitment and endless hard work in support of the Mount and Marsden Community Association has been crucial to its success as a powerful voice for the local community.

“Not to sound too dramatic about it, but along with her fellow residents, she won us the battle for Tower View.”

Lucia Chadwick was presented with her award for her volunteer work with the befriending scheme Active and In Touch.

“I’ve known Lucia for several years,” the mayor said. “But only since I have seen her in action as the volunteer co-ordinator and development worker for Somerset You Can Do’s Active and In Touch, have I really got to know what she’s about.

“She is one of those people who does more than a full-time job in a part-time role, and has taken Active and In Touch from strength to strength.

“Her caring commitment to other people, particularly those who need a helping hand to get on in their lives, is an incredible asset to the organisation and to the community as a whole.”

Jim Boulter was presented the final award for his role as a founder member and ongoing manager of the Frome Town Youth Band.

Cllr Bielby said, “We should, by rights, have organised some sort of fanfare for Jim. Since being a founder member, for nearly 20 years he has been the manager and driving force behind the wonderful Frome Town Youth Band.

“Not only is he at pretty much every Frome event throughout the year, behind the scenes he has given years of his time and energy keeping the band going, encouraging new members to join and learn an instrument.

“This award is in recognition of his dedication to music in our community, for inspiring generations of young musicians, and for providing Frome with some wonderful music.”