BISHOPS Castle Town Council held the first civic awards in the Town Hall on October 13. The civic award for volunteering in the group category was given to the Grange Road ladies Carol Clarke, Sheila Hawkes, Ellen Edwards and Rose Burgwin, who are the founder members of the group Lunches for All. They were nominated by Lucy Blundell.

The civic award for voluntary work in Bishop's Castle for a group or more than one person was given to Michael and Elizabeth Knight in recognition of over 30 years of work with children and young people. The couple had been nominated by Heather Holt.

The civic award for services to the community of Bishop's Castle was awarded to Mary Pullen, a long serving first responder in the town. She was nominated by Dorothy and Barry Lavender and Hazel Higgs.

The civic award for community fundraising went to Maureen Parry who has raised money for charity over 47 years. Maureen was nominated by Maureen and David Jones.

The civic award for volunteer work in the community was given to Janet Preshous for her work in recording the reminiscences of elderly people in the area. Her nominees were Gill and Maurice Philips.

The civic award for services to the community was given to Peter Norton for starting the walking festival and other community action. He was nominated by Gillian Bass.

The civic award for services to the town and local area was given to Doris Roberts, whose nominee was Dorothy Round. Mrs Roberts is a volunteer at Stone House and in Norbury.

The judges for the Bishops Castle civic awards were Mary and Alan Seldon, Rosemary Griffiths and Cllr Josh Dicken.

Allotment holders were also recognised at awards evening - As part of the awards ceremony at Bishops Castle Town Hall on October 13 the Mayor Karen Bavastock recognised the work of gardeners on the town's allotments. Judges were Gill Lawler and Jane Pugh who gave the award for the best allotment to Mr and Mrs Isherwood. Gill Lawler said, "It was the diversity of their vegetables especially in the poly tunnel which we felt deserved recognition on this occasion; however there were many good allotments and it was a very difficult decision." In second place were allotment holders Dave and Nikki Simpson, with the allotments of Carol Jones and John Marpole in joint third place.

Gardeners commended for their allotments were Mr and Mrs Woods, Paul Lucas, Basil Lello. Barbara Huffer, Sarah Halliday and Clare Williams. The mayor had also asked the chairman of the allotment group, Sarah Halliday for the name of a person who deserved a special mention and she suggested Rozie Paul for this award. Ms Bavastock thanked Meg Gwilliam, the assistant clerk to Bishops Castle Town Council for her work as the town's allotment co-ordinator and the evening ended with a buffet supper, provided by the mayor from her allowance.

******************************(See picture of Bishops Castle Town Council Awards evening)

Pictured front – Rosemary Griffiths (mayor's consort), Meg Gwilliam (assistant clerk and allotments co-ordinator), Gill Lawler (judge), Karen Bavastock, Mary Seldon (town clerk)

Back row left to right

John Marpole, David and Nicky Simpson, Mrs Wood, Mr Isherwood, Mr Wood, Basil Lello, Paul Lucas and Bishops Castle Allotment Group chairman Sarah Halliday