Published Monday, 22nd July 2024
Thirty three community heroes from across the borough were rewarded with a Long Service Awards for their volunteering efforts and selfless service to communities at a special ceremony on July 11.
Part of the annual Reigate & Banstead Volunteer Awards, the Long Service Award was specially introduced this year to coincide with the Council’s 50th anniversary of its formation in 1974.
It recognises volunteers who have completed a considerable length of voluntary service of 10 years or more. The awards were presented by Nicholas Owen who was also honoured for his voluntary work with the Children’s Trust and St Catherine’s Hospice.
An honour to host the awards
The Mayor of the Borough of Reigate & Banstead, Cllr Eddy Humphreys, presented the winners with their certificates and thanked them for their dedication, selfless service, and hard work.
The Mayor said: “It was an honour to host these awards to celebrate and recognise the valuable, selfless work of so many individual volunteers and teams who for a very long time, have dedicated themselves to enriching the lives of others in our community. Recent years have highlighted just how essential volunteers are to our communities especially our most vulnerable residents. You are an inspiration to so many of us and I want to take this opportunity to say thank you for all your selfless efforts over the years.”
Below is the full list of winners and you can hear their individual interviews in episode 45 of The Planet Reigate Podcast.
Rose Smith (Redhill Foodbank)
Debbie Fox (Growing Redhill)
Maggie Cox (Loveworks)
Graham Humphries (Loveworks where he has volunteered for 14 years)
Dawn Martin (5th Reigate Scout Group)
Mark Thompson (Age Concern Banstead where he has volunteered for 11 years)
Peter Bright (Age Concern Banstead)
Tom Walters (1st Tadworth Sea Scout Group for 12 years volunteering)
Kim Jones (The National Trust for 14 years of volunteering)
Ian Rhodes (Horley Community Centre)
Anthony Jackson (Horley Community Centre where he has volunteered for 14 years)
Mary Evans (Furnistore)
Dave Mills (Reigate Priory Athletics Club where he has volunteered for 14 years)
Chrissie Gilling (MHA Communities where she has volunteered for 15 years)
Kate Hamilton (The Samaritans of East Surrey where she has volunteered for 16 years)
George W Gray (The British Heart Foundation)
Mike Gregory (St John Ambulance)
Jill Twamley (St John Ambulance where she has volunteered for an incredible 55 years)
Beryl Rodd (The Children’s Trust)
Nicholas Owen (The Children’s Trust and St Catherine’s Hospice)
Jacquie Redfern (Archway Theatre where she has volunteered for 28 years)
Janette Chapman (The Guides)
Colin Griffiths (The Banstead District Scouts)
John Draper (Banstead Rotary Club)
Team of volunteers from the Redhill Corp of Drums and Band (Ryan Jolly (16 years), Glen O’Dwyer (21 years), Sam Goard (27 years), Annemarie Banks (27 years), Elizabeth Ongley (27 years), Maria Peters (33 years), Trevor Ongley (33 years), Michelle Burton (33 years), Dean Ongley (33 years).
Recipients of the Long Service Award pausing for a group photo with the Mayor and Mayoress of Reigate & Banstead at the Town Hall