The 2011 Mayoral Awards, sponsored by the Buckinghamshire Examiner, will be announced at the Annual Town Meeting on 19th May. Chesham’s Mayoral Awards were established in 2005 by the then Mayor, Cllr Mohammad Bhatti. The Awards recognise the contribution of residents and businesses that make a difference to Chesham’s community. There are three awards; you can read more about these below. The 2011 awards will be given out by the Mayor at the Annual Town Meeting on 19th May at the Town Hall. Town Mayor, Cllr Jane Bramwell, said, "The Mayoral Awards are a chance for the town to honour local people and businesses who have made a real difference to our community.".
There are three awards:
The People’s Award - for those who have helped the well-being, advancement and welfare of Chesham and/or its residents. The prize for the winner is £150, donated by Town Mayor Cllr Jane Bramwell and the Buckinghamshire Examiner, to go towards a project or charity of the winner's choosing.
The 2010 winner is
Phil Folly for his enormous range of voluntary work over many years in Chesham. At some time or another, most Chesham residents will have seen Phil litter picking in the river, chairing a meeting, manning a stall on the local producers' markets or one of his many other activities that helps to make Chesham a greener, cleaner, friendlier community. There was a resounding cheer when Phil received his award, showing the regard that the people of Chesham have for our very own super-volunteer.
The Rafe Chiles Young Person’s Award was set up to act as an inspiration and in long standing memory of Rafe’s good work with young people in the community. This award is sponsored by Rafe’s family and is open to a young person (or group) aged up to 25, who have made a positive difference to the lives of young people in Chesham. The award is £150 donated by Rafe's family and the Buckinghamshire Examiner, which will be put towards the project or charity of the winner's choice.
The 2010 winners are
Rosa Gilbert, Sam Tippett, Juliet Morgan, Hannah Tricks, Chloe Goulding, Mairi Lubelska, Becki Tricks, Abi Rawlins and
Nicola Hobbs from Chesham High School and Chesham Park Community College for their work with Chesham4Fairtrade, to promote awareness of Fairtrade within Chesham and beyond.All of these students have acted as a Fairtrade school representative, serving on Chesham4Fairtrade’s steering group for at least a year or more. This has involved attending meetings, and setting up and running Fairtrade stalls within the schools and at community events. They have each made an important contribution to their school and community through Chesham4Fairtrade and helped to ensure that Chesham has maintained its Fairtrade Town status for 5 years.
The Business Award is supported by Chesham’s Chamber of Trade and Commerce to celebrate businesses/retail outlets in Chesham that contribute to the community.
The 2010 winner is Orbitpress. In the words of their nominators, the whole team at Orbitpress represent all that is good about Chesham. They are friendly, community spirited people whose ethos extends to activities outside their place of work. Orbitpress support many other Chesham businesses, they buy locally whenever they can and make it their business to support and promote Chesham as a town. This is most notable in regard to the amount of work, free printing, and time and effort they have put into raising money for the successful opening of Chesham Museum in 2009.
The winners of the Business Award receive a specially engraved crystal trophy.