BOVEY TRACEY TOWN COUNCIL COMMUNITY AWARDS 2022
The council was pleased to confirm the recipients of four 2022 awards announced at the Annual Town Meeting on 30th March 2022.
COLIN BACK
HONORARY REPRESENTATIVE OF THE LORD OF THE MANOR OF BOVEY TRACEY
Colin, Chair of the New Park Community Association, was re-elected to serve a further year in this rôle, which is awarded at the discretion of the Town Council for Voluntary Long-Term Service to the community in Bovey Parish.
New Park is an extremely active community with some 260 homes, housing nearly 400 residents, so the size of Colin’s rôle there cannot be understated.
He has helped residents with all sorts of problems of both a personal and official nature, organized social events (including a popular summer fete) and outings, and negotiated discounted services from lists of trusted traders and handymen in the area, while editing a monthly magazine for residents.
Primarily Colin was awarded this title for the considerable efforts he has put in to making New Park a united and caring community within Bovey Tracey.
MARION EDWARDS
COMMUNITY CHAMPION 2022
Marion won this Award for her voluntary work since 2018 in creating the Bovey Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP). While many have come and gone on its Steering Group, Marion remained committed right through to final submission of the Plan to Teignbridge Council earlier this year.
Marion assisted and worked on many consultation exercises, conducted research, wrote background texts, and formulated key policies in the Plan. She also took on the extremely time-consuming task of Editor to drive the whole project forward, while relentlessly chasing progress at each stage. Much of the success in the NDP meeting its various key milestones is down to Marion.
The NDP is significantly important for the whole community of Bovey Tracey and Heathfield for the future, giving a greater say in planning policy, which is important to us all, and an increased share (up from 15% to 25%) in future infrastructure levies raised on new developments in the Parish.
SUSIE HONNOR
ENVIRONMENTAL CHAMPION 2022
Susie is a tireless and committed volunteer activist in the Parish and is a key member of the Climate Emergency Bovey & Heathfield (CEBH) action group. She was a member of the Plastic-Free Bovey team when it was set up over five years ago and is now its Chair. Susie has ensured that its activities continued during the pandemic, advising families and businesses on what they need to consider for their reduction in use of one-time plastics, and how to recycle any that they already have. Susie also continues to organise regular well attended litter picks across the Parish.
Susie maintains contacts with the Surfers Against Sewage organisation (responsible for awarding Plastic-Free status to towns like Bovey Tracey), and for ensuring the qualifying standards are maintained to keep that status. Accordingly, she is instrumental in keeping the Plastic Free agenda very visible in the parish through her enthusiasm for the cause.
Much of this work might go unseen in the background but is important for all of us, because of the massive negative impact One-time Plastic Use has on our environment. This award is in recognition of the huge and leading part Susie plays in this for Bovey and Heathfield.
CARYS GWILLAM
YOUNG CITIZEN OF THE YEAR 2022
Carys has been an active member of Bovey Tracey Scouts since joining as a Beaver Scout aged 6.
Moving through all the sections available to the Scouts, she has always been an enthusiastic member, taking part in the activities on offer. At age 14 she joined the District Explorer Scout section and started work on achieving a Duke of Edinburgh Award.
For the past two years, Carys has given up her own time by volunteering to assist in the Cub scout section on a Tuesday night, showing a willingness to give back and pass on her skills to the younger sections. This has been invaluable to them and the Scouting leaders. With her dedication and commitment, she has become a great role model for the Bovey Scout youngsters.
As a result of her endeavours and voluntary work, Carys has recently been selected as a member of the international service team for the UK contingent at the World Scout Jamboree in Korea in 2023, where she will assist in the day-to-day running for the 30,000 scouts from around the world.
Set up in 2012 through the endeavours of Bovey’s PCSO Paul Wlson, the purpose of this Award is to recognise the good deeds of young people going out of their way to assist others in the community through volunteering their time and commitment. Carys has done just that for the Bovey Scouts.
FINALLY. WITH THANKS
The Town Council would like to thank Maddie and Tom at Home Park Café, Julie and Gary Roberts (formerly of the Cromwell Arms) at Kestor Inn, Manaton, and Leanne Taylor at Bovey “Escape the Game” for the vouchers they kindly offered to the winners of the Champion and Young Citizen Awards.
The presentations were made by Cllr Debbie Fletcher, Deputy Mayor, and Cllr Tony Allen, Council Lead on the Awards. Carys has yet to be presented with her Certificate, which it is planned will be made at the next Scout assembly in Mill Marsh Park on 26th April."
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