Mayoral Awards
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:
The People’s Award - for those who have helped the well-being, advancement and welfare of Chesham and/or its residents.
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 Business Award is supported by Chesham’s Chamber of Trade and Commerce to celebrate businesses/retail outlets in Chesham that contribute to the community.
This year, the awards were sponsored by the Buckinghamshire Examiner. The winners of the People’s and Rafe Chiles Awards each received £150 for their project or charity of their choice. The winners of the Business Award received a specially engraved crystal trophy. All the Awards were presented by the Mayor at the Annual Town Meeting in May.
People’s Award – Christine Stanners has been involved in voluntary work for many years and was nominated for her work promoting the health and welfare of older people – particularly for her work with the Chesham Over 50s Positive Action Group (COPAG) from its very beginnings to the present day.
Rafe Chiles Young Person’s Award – Paige Lacey-Akers was nominated for her work on projects and activities with Chesham Youth Centre, including a 10-month intergenerational project across Bucks in which she took part in community activities for older people. Paige has also been fundamental in helping to plan and organise other projects, supporting youth workers and helping to rally and enthuse other young people to get involved.
Business Award – The Drawingroom is a café and art gallery in the heart of the town, and received two independent nominations for very different reasons. The first nomination recognised the importance of The Drawingroom as a community gathering point, whilst the second focused on the work of the owner Richard Elkington, for his years of effort combating graffiti and litter around the town.
If you missed out on the chance to make a nomination, there's always next year! Visit this page again in 2009 to download a nomination form for the 2009 awards.
