Newark and District Community Awards: Unsung heroes rewarded
A ceremony at Newark Castle recognised the dedication, courage and commitment of the town’s unsung heroes.
Nine awards were presented at the Newark and District Community Awards.
Liam Hassell, 17, of Marsh Lane, Farndon, received the Newark and Sherwood District Council Award For Youth, from the chairman, Mr Ivor Walker, presenting on behalf of Every Occasion Events.
Liam is a young carer for his older brother, Karl, who has spina bifida and hydrocephalus.
Lyon Newman, 19, of Winthorpe Road, Newark, won the Award For Courage/Heroism, presented by Staythorpe Power Station, for helping to save the life of his friend after they were both in a car crash.
Mr Ken Daubney, chairman of Newark Dementia Carers Group, was presented with the Mayor’s Award, for his work to set up the group.
He received the award from the Mayor of Newark, Mr Rob Crowe.
Mr Paul Carrington-Anderson, 43, of Lincoln, owner of Envy Signature Salon, Appletongate, was presented with the Newark and Sherwood District Council Award For Adults, by Ambitions Personnel.
He was recognised for going above and beyond to help his clients.
Volunteer Mr Noel Sweet, 61, of Newark, received the Community Service Award presented by Southwell Racecourse.
Mr Sweet has been a volunteer with Beaumond House Community Hospice for six years.
Coddington couple Mr Bernard Allen, 90, and his wife, Mrs Joyce Allen, 84, won the Award For Senior Citizens, presented by Ringrose Law.
They were congratulated for their contribution to village life, which includes Bernard still working on his farm and being a member of Coddington Parish Council for more than 30 years.
Mrs Allen is a member of the village hall trustees committee and the village church, where she plays the organ if needed.
Jaguars Wheelchair Basketball Club received the Sports Award from Radio Newark.
The group, based at Magnus Church of England Academy, allows anyone in Nottinghamshire to play wheelchair basketball.
There are almost 40 players aged from seven to 70plus.
Mr George Wilkinson, 77, of Lincoln Road, Newark, was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award by Bakkavor.
He has dedicated more than 20 years to helping Newark look its best, through being part of the Newark In Bloom committee and through 18 years as a member of Newark Civic Trust.
A music teacher was presented with the Award For Education, by Barcode Warehouse.
Mr Ron Pickersgill, of Keats Road, Balderton, has been a teacher for more than 60 years.
He is retired but still travels to primary schools voluntarily teaching pupils the recorder.
A total of £1,070 raised from ticket sales and a raffle will be split between the Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance and East Midlands Immediate Care Scheme.
A cheque was presented to Dr Mark Folman, of the Fountain Medical Centre, Newark, who volunteers for both charities.
The awards ceremony, held in a marquee in the castle grounds, was organised by volunteer Clare Atherley, the Advertiser, and Bakkavor.
It was hosted by Radio Newark’s Vicky Cozens and Phil Johnson. Pictures were by Teresa Martin. There was a performance by singer Fiona Miller.
The event was supported by Newark and Sherwood District Council, and sponsored by Barcode Warehouse, Southwell Racecourse, Staythorpe Power Station, Ambi-tions Personnel, Every Occasion Events, Ringrose Law, Newark Town Council, Bakkavor and Radio Newark.
The Advertiser’s promotions executive, Cassandra Jameson, said: “It was an inspirational evening. When we are judging, it is so hard to choose from the nominations.
“Those who have won are the tip of the iceberg — there are some amazing people in Newark.”
In thanking the sponsors Casandra said: “Without them the awards wouldn’t happen.”
Lifetime Achievement - sponsored by Bakkavor
Mr George Wilkinson received his award from Kerry Rigby, of Bakkavor.
Mr Wilkinson, 77, of Lincoln Road, has been a member of Newark Civic Trust for 18 years, ten as chairman. He stepped down in 2014 and is still a committee member.
Mr Wilkinson, who was born in Winthorpe, is chairman of the Newark In Bloom committee and is also a historian and accomplished author.
Mr Wilkinson said: “I didn’t realise I had been doing this for so long.
“The hard work isn’t all down to me. There are a lot of other people who work hard in the town.”
When asked what he liked most about Newark, Mr Wilkinson said: “All of it. The good, the bad and the indifferent.”
Award For Senior Citizens - sponsored by Ringrose Law
Bernard and Joyce Allen, of Allens Farms, Coddington, received their award from Steve Hampson, of Ringrose Law.
The couple were recognised for their work in Coddington.
Mr Allen, 90, still works on his farm and carries out tasks including lambing.
He has been a parish councillor for more than 30 years and is chairman of Coddington Village Hall trustees committee. He is an active member of the village church and Coddington History Group.
Mrs Allen, 84, line-dances and plays bowls.
She organises refreshments for village fundraising events and is a member of Coddington WI.
Mrs Allen is a member of the village hall trustees committee and the village church, where she also plays the organ if needed.
Mr Allen said: “The wife and I will remember this night for the rest of our days. It is a great honour.
“We love everything about village life.”
Award For Education - sponsored by Barcode Warehouse
Retired music teacher Mr Ron Pickersgill received his award from Joanne Lee, of Barcode Warehouse.
Mr Pickersgill, of Keats Road, Balderton, was nominated by Mr Tony Roberts, vice-chairman of governors at Barnby Road Academy.
Mr Pickersgill has inspired hundreds of pupils since he started teaching more than 60 years ago.
Despite officially retiring more than 20 years ago he began visiting primary schools including Barnby Road Academy and Lover’s Lane voluntarily, teaching pupils to play the recorder.
Mr Pickersgill used to arrive by bike, balancing the recorders and music sheets on the handlebars but now arrives by car.
Barnby Road Academy has dedicated its music room to him, naming it the Ron Pickersgill Room.
Mr Pickersgill said: “It feels superb to have won.”
Newark and Sherwood District Council Award For Youth - sponsored by Every Occasion Events
Liam Hassell, 17, of Marsh Lane, Farndon, received his award from the chairman of the district council, Mr Ivor Walker, who made the presentation on behalf of Every Occasion Events.
Liam is studying A-levels at The Minster School, Southwell, while looking after his brother, Karl, 19, who has spina bifida and hydrocephalus.
It means that Karl cannot be left alone, and Liam helps with every aspect of his care, from giving medication to taking him out.
His learning has been affected but, despite this, Liam achieved eight A grades and two B grades in his GCSEs last year.
Liam often takes responsibility for his brother to allow their parents to spend time together.
“I accepted the award for everyone who goes unnoticed,” said Liam.
Both Liam and Karl are members of the Jaguars Wheelchair Basketball Club.
Mayor's Award - sponsored by Newark Town Council
Mr Ken Daubney, chairman of Newark Dementia Carers Group, received his award from the Mayor of Newark, Mr Rob Crowe.
Mr Daubney, 82, of Valley Prospect, started attending a monthly Alzheimer’s Café held at the Salvation Army headquarters on Mead Way, Balderton, after his wife, Dorothy, was diagnosed with the disease.
He found the sessions useful but it did not offer the respite he had hoped for.
In 2014, Mr Daubney organised a tea dance at Lincoln Road Community Centre, with music by the Lincoln-based Monsonaires Big Band, which he is a member of after establishing the group in the 1980s.
A total of £900 was raised, which was used to form Newark Dementia Carers Group, which has about 60 members and meets on the last Tuesday of the month at Flowserve, Balderton.
Mr Daubney said he felt humble about winning his award, which he was going to put on his mantelpiece.
“Dementia is a terrible disease that can affect everyone and people are diagnosed every day,” he said.
“My dream for the group would be to provide a respite service for the carers.
“You don’t know what it is like until you look after someone with the condition.”
Courage/Heroism Award - sponsored by Staythorpe Power Station
Lyon Newman, who saved the life of a friend, received his award from Mr Lee Martin, of Staythorpe Power Station.
Lyon, 19, of Winthorpe Road, and his friend, Harry Chadwick, of Newark, were passengers in a car being driven by Matthew Glasson, of Balderton.
The car left the road on Bowbridge Road, just before midnight on October 5, 2014, and ended up overturned in a water-filled ditch.
Matthew’s head was under water and Lyon felt about in the dark to lift it above the water. Meanwhile Harry was trying to kick out the car’s back window.
Two lorry drivers pulled Harry to safety, but Liam stayed in the car to make sure his friend was OK.
Matthew remained in a critical condition for 13 days and was visited by his two friends regularly.
“It was scary at the time but we just did it without thinking and wanted to make sure our friend was OK,” Lyon said. “It is nice to be recognised.”
Newark and Sherwood District Council Award For Adults - sponsored by Ambitions Personnel
Hairdresser Mr Paul Carrington-Anderson received his award from Mr Olly Wood, of Ambitions Personnel.
Mr Carrington-Anderson, 43, of Lincoln, has owned Envy Signature Salon, Appletongate, Newark, for almost 11 years and was recognised for remarkable service to clients, including Doug and Val Pacey.
When Mr Pacey became ill, Paul visited the couple’s home to cut his hair. That level of commitment continued after Mr Pacey died with a visit to the chapel of rest to do his hair before the funeral.
Paul continued to check on Mrs Pacey and visited her daily when she was in hospital.
Mrs Pacey died in 2014, and Paul went to the funeral home to do her hair.
Paul said: “It means a lot to win. I’m speechless.
“Going to the funeral home is something I just did. I wanted to help.”
Community Service Award - sponsored by Southwell Racecourse
Mr Alex Jepson, of Southwell Racecourse, presented the award to Mr Noel Sweet, a volunteer with Beaumond House Community Hospice for six years.
Mr Sweet, 61, of Newark, began volunteering as an occasional driver when his wife visited the hospice for day care.
He learnt that the hospice needed help and began volunteering more of his time.
Without Mr Sweet’s voluntary work some patients would not be able to get to the hospice and use its services.
He was the first person to receive three Flagship Awards from Beaumond House, which recognise commitment and outstanding contribution.
He is described by people at the hospice as happy, obliging, patient and dependable.
Mr Sweet said: “I don’t volunteer to get recognised. I do it because I want to help people. I enjoy what I do and especially the social side of it.
“Beaumond House is a fantastic place.”
Sports Award - sponsored by Radio Newark
Jaguars Wheelchair Basketball Club won the Sports Award.
Based at Magnus Church of England Academy, the club allows anyone in Nottinghamshire to play wheelchair basketball.
With almost 40 players, it allows competitive sport to be played at its highest level and supports all ages and abilities.
The club has two members of the GB Paralympic men’s team and a GB under-22 captain.
The Jaguars under-15s have won the Lord’s Taverners National Junior Championships three times in the last five years.
Mr Chris Hassell, a coach for more than ten years, said: “As a team we feel really proud to be recognised.
“We go all around the country to compete in games and have some excellent players.
“The Jaguars encourages players from an early age and it is a sport all of the family can take part in and enjoy.”
The award was presented by Evie Hoggard of Radio Newark.
