COMMUNITY-minded residents were presented with Civic Awards by the town’s mayor, cllr Philip Campagna, at Frome’s recent Annual Town Meeting at the town hall on 3rd April.
Six Civic Awards have been presented to residents, with five being handed out on the night as Frome’s former town crier Mike Bishop, collected his award last year.
The five awards were given to: volunteers of Discover Frome, The Good Heart’s Alison Murdoch, Memorial Theatre trustee Humphrey Barnes, Frome Welcomes Refugees, and Peter Travis of Frome and Villages Bus Users Group (FAVBUG).
“It’s an absolute pleasure to be able to award Civic Awards, but what a tough job,” said cllr Campagna.
Discover Frome Volunteers
The mayor wanted to recognise the volunteers’ commitment and dedication to Frome and the way they welcome people and visitors to the town. “We want Frome to be a warm, welcoming place and we want that for everybody,’ explained the mayor. “To have those people there and serving the community in the way they do, I thought was just amazing.”
Peter Travis, FAVBUG
Peter is co-chair of Somerset Bus Partnership and also part of Frome and Villages Bus Users Group. The mayor wanted to recognise his commitment to Frome and the work he has done in supporting bus routes and securing new services for the town.
Frome Welcomes Refugees
The group was presented with an award for all their work and ‘incredible commitment’ in helping displaced families arriving in Frome. A member of the group took the opportunity to recognise and thank all the people in Frome who have helped displaced people arrive and settle in the town and donate funds.
Alison Murdoch: The Good Heart
Alison, the director of the Good Heart, which also runs the annual Frome Kindness Festival, was recognised for all the ‘amazing and incredible’ things she does in the town. “[The Good Heart] has become an integral part of Frome,” said the mayor.
Alison said, “We all know that one person can’t do everything, so this is just my opportunity to say thank you to my amazing team at The Good Heart. We have had hundreds of volunteers, almost beyond count and amazing support from everybody at Frome Town Council and particularly this year’s mayor, thank you so much!”
Humphrey Barnes
Humphrey was recognised for his commitment to the Memorial Theatre and all the charity work he has done through the Rotary. Earlier this year, Humphrey performed a cameo as a Dame in Snow White in his last pantomime after 70 years on the stage.
“I was born in Frome down in the Butts in 1937, 86 years ago, and I have often been asked over the years why I have never perhaps stood to be a councillor in Frome, but I think [the Memorial Theatre] over the road has gotten in the way of me doing that. I first walked on stage with the Operatic Society in 1951 as a 14-year-old boy and I was on stage this Christmas and was in a show three years ago, in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.”
“Thank you all so very much for this lovely award. I think it will probably go up in the Memorial Theatre foyer.”
During the evening, a short film was also presented that celebrated the 40-plus organisations that have received funding from Frome Town Council this financial year, including Frome Birth Talk, Window Wanderland and the Autism and ADHD Parent Support Group.
Cllr Philip Campagna hosted the meeting six weeks before the end of his tenure.
He started the meeting with a selection of photos from more than 1,600 social media posts since April last year and shared personal highlights, including a recent meeting with film director Ken Loach and many community activities.
“Thank you all very much,” he said. “It has been and it still is, an absolute pleasure to be mayor of such a fantastic town with such a fantastic community.”
He also thanked the staff at Frome Town Council, fellow colleagues, councillors and friends for their support throughout the year.
