Wokingham

Award-winning Wokingham volunteers from around the district gathered for afternoon tea, in Wokingham District Council’s Garden Suite in December to celebrate their achievements together.

Every month Wokingham District Council’s chairman Cllr Iain Brown gives an award to local residents who have done something special for their local community. During his year in office, Cllr Iain Brown has introduced a civic shield, which is presented each month, together with the traditional flower arrangement or gift.

Peter and Rita Gulliver won the award in June, for setting up ‘Woodley Woollies’. The Gullivers and their team make gloves, scarves, hats, sweaters and blankets, for charities and aid agencies across the world. Since its origin, the organisation has made over 20,000 garments, and now includes 30 other groups across the UK and in France. All knitting members are volunteers, and most knit from a pattern book produced by Mrs Gulliver.

Reg Prickett, volunteer green-keeper at Hurst Bowls Club, won the award in July. Mr Prickett dedicates three mornings a week to looking after the popular bowling green, and often gets up at dawn to make sure it is ready for the day’s events.

“On the day I received my award I knew that something was happening as I was told to dress in my best clothes. I was very surprised when I learnt what was really going on and it was very gratifying to receive this recognition,” said Mr Prickett.

Jim Brown won the award in October, for the service he provides on behalf of Wokingham District Council, doing ‘odd jobs’ in the homes of older residents. These jobs range from fitting grab rails and door treads to hanging curtains and fitting smoke alarms.

Although these are small jobs, they often make a huge difference to the lives of older people, helping them to stay in their own homes or return to their homes following a stay in hospital.

Having completed almost 3,000 odd jobs for Wokingham council, Jim is often highly praised by older people for having a “kind and warm attitude” and for taking the time to listen to them to find out what their needs are. He was the first handyman in Berkshire to provide a service of this kind to older people, and a number of other handyman services have since been established in other areas across Berkshire.

Heather Creswell won the award in November. Heather lost her daughter Julie to Multiple Sclerosis (MS) at the age of 32. Heather and her husband Bill have been volunteering for the MS Society for 13 years. Heather currently runs a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week telephone support service from her home in Earley. Heather takes 30 to 40 calls a week from people affected by MS and also organises a special support group for those newly diagnosed with the disease.

Mrs Cresswell said: “I was thrilled to receive the flowers from the Wokingham chairman. Many volunteers, like me, spend a great deal of their time working away from the public eye, so their work is often unnoticed. However, I am just part of a hardworking team.”

The afternoon tea was held on December 13, as an opportunity for the recipients to meet each other, and for the chairman to present shields to those who received their awards prior to their introduction.

Shields were also presented to three long-serving governors - Alan Spratling, Beth Rowland and Alison Mitchell. Alan Spratling has accrued around 24 years service as a governor serving at a number of Earley schools, including Hillside, Radstock and Aldryngton primaries, and at Maiden Erlegh where he was, for a time, chair of governors and is still a serving governor.

Alison Mitchell has served for over 20 years at Oaklands Infant and Junior and she is currently chair of governors at Oaklands Junior. Beth Rowland, though unfortunately unable to attend the Chairman's tea party, was recognised for her 23 years service at Southlake infant and Junior (now amalgamated to Southlake Primary) and Highwood School. She is still a serving governor at both schools.

“These people do so much to improve the lives of others in their community,” said Cllr Brown. “I feel it is valuable for them to meet each other. It is also important for the volunteers in our community to know that their work continues to be appreciated.”

Wokingham District Council