News

Bill Didham is receiving this award for his hard work and dedication to various charities and organisations.

For 20 years Bill has been a member of Parkstone Rotary Club and has received the Harris Fellow Award. As Chair of the fundraising committee he has initiated many fund raising activities in support of Parkstone Rotary's Community Service Programmes such as the Dogs Derby events at Upton House. Bill also started the Christmas Toy Collection in Poole and arranged 'Kids Day Out' trips to Paulton's Park for disabled children in Poole.

Bill was a founder member of the Friends of Dolphin who provide financial support to the Dolphin project that, since 1985, has taken 20,000 disabled passengers on trips in Poole Bay. Friends of Dolphin have also been responsible for raising the funds for the purchase of a new boat; Dolphin III.

In 1985, until health considerations forced him to step down at the age of 80, Bill founded the Poole Stroke Club, raised money to buy ambulances and arranged other transport, helpers, refreshments, speakers, entertainers and outings. People suffering from a stroke were able to leave the confines of their homes for a few hours of fun and also give some respite to their carers.

Bill is Honorary Auditor of the Dorset Branch of SSAA (Soldiers, Sailors, Airforce Association) and also of the Ferndown branch of Arthritis Care. He was Treasurer of East Dorset Stroke Association for the 10 years of its existence.

We would like to ask Bill to accept this award with our gratitude and thanks for all his hard work and commitment.

St Gabriel's Pre School has been given this award for their consistent care and support to the children of Turlin Moor.

St Gabriel's was founded over 30 years ago and is largely funded by the Parish of Hamworthy and a benevolent donation. It relies on the kindness and support from volunteers, the Church and the local community.

Staff are locally enrolled, highly trained and deeply committed to the children to whom they care for. The school has endeavoured to keep childcare charges low so the facility is available for everyone and they offer help and support to any parent or carer who falls on hard times.

With the introduction of Government funding and new OfSTED reports and standards, St Gabriel's will be able to gain acknowledgement for their hard work and consistent striving for excellence for the children and community of Turlin Moor.

We would like St Gabriel's to receive this award to show our support and gratitude to all the staff, volunteers and parents who put in so much effort for the benefit of their community.

Brian Galpin

Brian is a shining example of community service to Poole and although retired he has involved himself in activities with local volunteer groups and is President of Dorset Family History Society and the Friends of Upton Country Park, he is also Treasurer of Wessex Newfoundland Society.

Brian has an extensive knowledge of Poole's history and takes an active part in public exhibitions for the Dorset Family History Society and helps others in their research of Poole and Dorset Forebears.

Brian's dedication and enthusiasm ensures that he is a driving force for fund-raising ventures to help improve Upton House and the park and his experience is much appreciated when in discussions with the Council through the Liaison Committee. His hard work and enthusiasm for the Newfoundland Society has made a considerable impact on building excellent relations on both sides of the Atlantic.

Brian is also an active member of the Society of Dorset Men and the Poole Heritage Forum who arrange guided walks of Old Poole and Upton Country House.

It is with thanks that we give this award to Brian for his outstanding contribution to the Borough of Poole.

This award is presented to Myrna in celebration and thanks for her continued devotion and efforts on behalf of the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association.

For 34 years Myrna has worked tirelessly and voluntarily to raise considerable funds for the Association. She has given hours of her time to speak at local school assemblies and encourage children to raise funds and also become involved in sponsored dog walks, busking in Falkland Square and other areas with the children singing and playing their recorders.

Myrna is secretary to the Poole Association and spends a great deal of time travelling to pick up collection boxes, emptying, counting and banking the monies and re-distributing them. During her time as a teacher, Myrna combined education and charity work and the school became the top fund-raiser in the country. She still organises fund raising events and involves children to build their awareness of helping those less fortunate.

Myrna is a role model for us all, she has raised nearly £100,000 is incredibly generous, kind and caring and works endlessly for Guide Dogs for the Blind. Mrs Chave is a deserving and worthy winner of this award.

Lee Dawe is a young man who suffers from learning difficulties but has managed to fight against the odds to make incredible achievements.

Lee was unable to attend main stream school but progressed through the Youth Services' Integration Project in 1997 to start his Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award at Creekmoor Open Award Centre. He then progressed through Silver and then Gold, which he received at Buckingham Palace in 2003.

Lee has a natural talent for woodwork, ceramics and art and enjoys swimming, volleyball and football. To receive his Gold Award, Lee participated in a multi-activity residential course and spent 10 days as a crew member of the Sail Training Association's 'Prince William' sailing from Portsmouth to France and back to Hull.

Until three years ago Lee had not got on a bus on his own, let alone anything as demanding as the Tall Ships Voyage. Supervisors on the trip said, "He arrived as a boy and left as a man."

Lee is now studying Basic Gardening at Poole College and still finds time to work as a volunteer for Social Services and for various gardening projects. He also assists our very own wardens at Upton Heath.

Lee is a truly remarkable person and has made astounding achievements through his own strength and courage. His enthusiasm rubs off on those around him and he has even inspired his father to take up voluntary work for the Duke of Edinburgh scheme.

At 87 years of age Phylis is an inspiration to us with her boundless energy and enthusiasm.

Phylis runs two dance sessions and teaches new sequence dances at Hillbourne Community Centre where she also runs a lunch club on Fridays. As if this wasn't enough Phylis has recently passed her Food Hygiene exam so that she can help cook the lunch when the cook is absent.

With no end to her talents Phylis also table dresses and supplies/arranges the food for the bi-monthly Saturday Dance. She also creates and design's the menus and place names on her home computer and is known for designing birthday and get well cards for her friends.

Phylis is President and Secretary of the Hillbourne Community Centre and holds coffee mornings during the summer to raise money for the Save the Children fund.

Phylis is an incredible person and fully deserves this award for her dedication, time and flair that she brings to her community.

Lindsay is a remarkable young woman whose bravery and cheerful outlook on life through the toughest of times is truly awe inspiring.

At 13 Lindsay joined the Air Training Corp (ATC) progressing through the ranks to Cadet Warrant Officer and at 17 she achieved the Gold Award in the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.

At 18 Lindsay was diagnosed with cancer of the neck of the Femur and at 19 had to have a metal replacement in the upper part of the limb. She was appointed the Lord Lieutenant's Cadet and Mayor's Cadet by Councillor Fred Winwood. Unfortunately the Cancer returned and at 20 was diagnosed with secondary cancer of the lungs.

At 21 Lindsay gained a Commission as an officer in the ATC and formed part of a Reconnaissance Party to Guatemala for future ATC expeditions. Unfortunately Lindsay suffered a setback as the metal replacement of the Femur was rejected and coupled with adhesion of body tissue and muscle to the metal she was unable to move without being in incredible pain. Lindsay decided to make the decision to have the limb removed.

Despite her illness and the removal of a limb, Lindsay still fully participates in the activities of the Squadron. She attends twice-weekly training and the parades and supported the Cadets in Snowdonia in conjunction with Dorset and Wiltshire ATC trekking, canoeing and caving. She regularly leads and participates in group activities; swimming, flying, football (as goalkeeper), roller blading and has sky dived and undergone an assault course to raise money for charity.

Not only has Lindsay achieved so much in the sporting arena, representing the Wing and Region at netball and swimming, but has also obtained degrees in Psychology and Computing Science and has completed a 1-year full time master's degree in Computer Software.

Lindsay has incredibly strong leadership skills and ability to encourage and motivate other cadets in her command. Her continual cheery disposition along with her courage and determination is a shining example to us all.

Katy Ianson

At only 12 Katy has shown an amazing amount of dedication and commitment in trampolining.

In 2003 she entered 5 grade one competitions, winning four and coming second once. She won the National Championships in Germany, coming first in the individual and second in the synchro making her World Champion for the under twelve's and is the only OLGA member to win individual gold.

Katy's dedication is evident in her extensive 14-hour training sessions every week on top of her schoolwork.

Despite her impressive list of achievements, Katy remains modest and it is thanks to her parents who feel she deserves some recognition for all her hard work and her accomplishment at such a young age. This award is given out of our mutual respect.

Scanner Committee

Mrs Lewis Manning formed the Scanner Committee in the 1980s and during that time she has raised over £4 million.

The present Chairman, Mr Normal Holloway supports a voluntary team of committee members who work tirelessly to raise funds to buy equipment for Poole Hospital.

So far the committee has managed to purchase two MRI Scanners and two CT Scanners and help to keep them maintained and updated. We give them this reward in thanks and gratitude for all they have done for the people of the region.

Sean Gabriel

Sean is receiving his award in recognition of his hard work and dedication as Duty Manager at Rossmore Leisure Centre.

Sean has worked over and above his expected duties at the Centre including jumping into the Father Christmas role at 5 minutes notice.

For the last three years Sean has organised a gymnastics competition for those with disabilities and has given 110% to ensure that the event runs smoothly including providing nearly two hundred lunches for the competitors when a local supermarket let them down.

Due to staff sickness Sean had to cope with a packed audience, the needs of the competitors and officials whilst also dealing with the day to day running of the centre and then provided two teams of 30 people with a cooked meal from the very small kitchen/snack bar with the assistance of just two members of staff.

Sean has stepped over and above the call of duty and our gratitude and thanks to him are strengthened on the back of this award.

Barbara Cobb

Barbara is being given this award to acknowledge the enormous efforts she has put into raising money and being the driving force behind many charitable events and organisations.

Barbara and her late husband have helped to raise many thousands of pounds for the Poole Lions charities by sponsored swims, golf matches, charity fairs and many other events.

Having worked for the Borough of Poole for over 30 years Barbara has assisted many Mayors of Poole in their fund raising events, giving large amounts of her time freely and voluntarily.

Many of her family, friends and neighbours will recognise just how caring and supportive Barbara has been if they have fallen on hard times or have become sick, she is a real friend.

Although Barbara is over 70 years old she continues to amaze us all by putting her heart and soul into Poole's community life.

Norah Coomber

Norah receives this award today in recognition of all her hard work and fund raising efforts for the Alzheimer's Society.

Norah's husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and as a result of his illness Norah became involved in the Alzheimer's Society and recently became Chairman.

Norah has been a member of the committee for 10 years and has worked tirelessly raising people's awareness of the disease as well as funds. She has campaigned for the voice of carers to be heard in any decision making with the NHS Trust and PCT and is always forging new links with the community and health professionals to make life of a dementia sufferer and their carers better.

Norah has worked tirelessly for this cause and we congratulate her with on behalf of all those that she has made a difference too.

Nicola and Lucy Macgregor

Nicola and Lucy receive their trophies today for their tremendous success in sailing. Both are members of Poole Yacht Club.

The girls won the Silver Medal in the 420 World Championships at the Sail Melbourne International Regatta in November 2003. Lucy and Nicola fought bravely against strong Competition and only came second to Melbourne's home team who are also the reigning champions.

Their dedication and commitment to their sport and their club is admirable and their success not only brings pride to their friends and family and to Poole Yacht Club but also to the whole Borough of Poole.

Father Peter Webb

Peter was the first Chairman of the Council's Standards. He was appointed Chairman in September 2000 and remained its Chairman until September 2003.

During this period he had the difficult task of establishing the credibility of the Standards Committee in the eyes of Councillors and the public.

He was instrumental in making sure that the Standards Committee, which comprises independent members as well as Councillors, worked together to operate the Councillor's Code of Conduct and various protocols.

Peter's calm, reasoned approach has ensured that the Standards Committee has operated effectively and as a result is highly respected.

It is with great pleasure that we can present Peter with this token of appreciation today with our grateful thanks for all his hard work.