A FATHER from Worcester has spoken of his pride at being the first Polish man in the city to receive a prestigious city award.

Tomasz Wiśniewski, founder and president of the Worcester Polish Association, received the Mayor's Best of Worcester Award on the steps of the city's Guildhall on Saturday.

The annual awards were inaugurated by then Mayor of Worcester, Cllr Alan Amos, and have been held in the city four times since. This year the awards, delayed by the coronavirus pandemic, were presented by last year's Mayor, Cllr Allah Ditta, who is also fully behind the scheme.

Winner Mr Wiśniewski organised the city's first Polish Heritage Day last year which commemorated the sacrifices made by his countrymen in helping to defend Britain during the Second World War and the ongoing contribution of the Polish community to life in Worcester.

The 39-year-old father, who has lived in Worcester for 13 years, accepted the award accompanied by his wife Angelika and daughter Jessica, seven, who attends St George's Catholic’s School in Worcester.

He comes originally from central west Poland, the region of Wielkopolska and was born in Poznań.

The community leader said: "I am told that I am the first Pole to receive the prestigious Mayor’s Best of Worcester Award.

"I was extremely proud to hear that. For the last thirteen years I have endeavoured to help and cooperate with, not only the Polish community, but all sections of the community in Worcester, across Great Britain and abroad, from all ethnic and other backgrounds. I am greatly honoured to receive this award.

"Not only does it recognise the work that I have done, but it also recognises the contribution that the wider Polish community have made to the City of Worcester and to Great Britain - that is very important to me personally.

I accept this award on their behalf.

"I would like to dedicate this prestigious award to my dad who passed away in December 2019, my mother, my wife, my wonderful daughter and brother."

Cllr Amos said the awards were established in 2014/15 when he was Mayor of Worcester and each year the categories were adapted so they remained relevant to the community whose contribution they were designed to celebrate and reflect.

"The aim is to recognise people who go above and beyond to help other people in the community on a voluntary basis," he said.

The former Mayor said this was the first year to feature an award for the LGBT community.

Pitmaston Primary School is also due to be presented with an award for the work they did supporting pupil Oscar Saxelby-Lee in his battle against T cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.