Islington Gazette - Your chance to honour unsung heroes
Your chance to honour unsung heroes
nlnews@archant.co.uk
19 December 2007
Winners Edna Haynes and Joan Sealy with last year’s Islington Mayor Councillor Jyoti Vaja at the 2006 awards
Winners Edna Haynes and Joan Sealy with last year’s Islington Mayor Councillor Jyoti Vaja at the 2006 awards
IT'S the time of year for festive goodwill - and what better way to spread some than by honouring the borough's most extra-ordinary people.
Every year the Mayor's Civic Awards recognise the work of Islington's unsung heroes, those whose determination and dedication to their communities make a real difference to the people of this borough.
The 2008 winners will be celebrated at a glitzy bash at Finsbury Town Hall on March 13 next year, but now is the time to nominate those you feel should be on the esteemed list.
Islington Mayor Councillor Barbara Smith said: "The Mayor's Civic Awards are a great way to recognise the unsung heroes in our society.
"I urge your readers to take the time to nominate a person or group that they feel has gone the extra mile and really deserve to be recognised for the positive contribution they have made to Islington.
"I would also like to thank the Islington Gazette for its continued support for the scheme."
Among last year's winners were Edna Haynes and Joan Sealy, a pair of amazing 80-somethings who have been running activities for pensioners such as bingo on the Highbury Quadrant estate for more than 30 years.
Jenny and Brian Cumpstey were honoured for their tireless work running the 34th Islington scouts company.
And so was feisty Sharon Jobe, who defied smashed windows and verbal abuse in her determination to reduce anti-social behaviour on the Market Estate in Holloway.
Ms Jobe said: "It really cheered me up getting the Mayor's award. I'd never even heard of the person who nominated me, so it was a real shock. But it's nice to realise that the work you do makes a difference and matters to people, even if it takes a while."
Tony Allcock, editor of the Islington Gazette, said: "There are so many awards ceremonies these days and the word honours has fallen into disrepute.
"We hear about anonymous civil servants being honoured for a lifetime of bureaucratic beavering in the corridors of power, and millionaire pop stars and actors getting knighthoods and Oscars to satisfy their already bloated egos.
"But our Mayor's Civil awards are about something different. They are about people who work tirelessly and unselfishly in our vibrant community for the good of others, without ever seeking or expecting any reward or recognition. People not motivated by glory, but by putting something back into the community they call home.
"There is no place quite like Islington - and these people are its real stars."
To nominate a special individual, family or group who have made a major or unique contribution to life in Islington phone The Mayor's Office on 020 7527 3113 or email the.mayor@islington.gov.uk or visit www.islington.gov.uk The deadline for nominations is January 18, 2008.
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