Community Service Awards
UNSUNG HEROES: Wakefield Rotary Club president Peter Gallivan with (left to right) Community Service Award winners Christine Sheppard, Mary Queen, Jack Appleyard and Sue Thomson. On the right is community service chairman Michael Brown
Putting community heroes in the spotlight
The Rotary Club of Wakefield's annual Community Service Awards are presented each year following an invitation to the public to nominate candidates.
On 13th March 2008 we recognised Christine Sheppard for her work with young prople in Sharlston while other awards went to three who are helping to make life better for people in the Lupset area. Sue Thomson, who set up Aysgarth Community Association four years ago, was runner-up to Christine for the Community Service Award itself, while the judges awarded 82-year-old Mary Queen the Good Neighbour prize with 75-year-old Jack Appleyard a close runner-up.
Certificates were presented to them by Rotary club president Peter Gallivan at a special event at the Chasley Hotel, with cheques for £100 going to each of the winners and £50 to the runners-up.
Mr Gallivan said the club was keen to recognise the voluntary work being done in the community and this year the judges had faced some difficult decisions because of the quality of the contributions being made by those who had been nominated.
He said Christine Sheppard had been helping young people in Sharlston for many years. Seeing how little there was for youngsters in the village, she set up the Sharlston Forever group, first providing sporting opportunities during the summer. With the onset of winter she hired the community centre for one evening a week, securing funding for games and materials, most recently a table tennis table.
Her name was put forward by Rebecca Murdoch who said in making the nomination: "Christine has done so much for the young people of Sharlston and because she is a well known figure in the community often has people complain and moan at her if they have issues with the youngsters.
"I wanted to nominate her to show her that people do value her hard work and determination. Christine is an asset to Sharlston."
Runner-up Sue Thomson set up Aysgarth Community Association, helping to fight drugs and anti-social behaviour on the Lupset estate. She has also established Neighbourhood Watch in the area.
She was nominated by Glenys Johnson who said: "She is one special and gutsy lady. She has involved police, Wakefield District Housing and Groundwork to get things cleaned up. It's now a nice place to live. Without people like Sue what would we do?"
The Good Neightbour Award went to 82-year-old Mary Queen, of Victoria Grove, Aysgarth, Lupset, who has been instrumental in clearing up a lot of crime in the Aysgarth area as an active member of Neighbourhood Watch.
She was nominated by Community Service Award runner-up Sue Thomson, who said: "She is always there for people although she suffered the loss of her son this year. She is a real asset to the community."
Runner-up was 75-year-old Jack Appleyard, of Aysgarth Drive, Lupset, a member of Aysgarth Community Association. He was nominated by Glenys Johnson who said: "He is there if you need him and he will do anything for anybody. He is a fantastic man to know."
The awards scheme was organised this year by the Rotary club's community service chairman, Michael Brown.
