Locals honoured for their contribution to Southwark civic life

The annual Southwark Civic Awards ceremony was this year held at St Giles Church in Camberwell as building works precluded the use of the usual venue, St George's Cathedral.

It is 12 years since the Southwark Civic Association was founded to promote civic awareness, responsibility and pride.

The award categories include work with young and elderly people, local sporting schemes, environmental projects and being a good neighbour.

The awards were presented by the Mayor of Southwark Cllr Bob Skelly, the Deputy Mayor Cllr Mackie Sheik, and former Mayors Cllr Paul Kyriacou, Cllr Anne Yates and Mrs Vicky Naish.

Some of the SE1 award winners

Bermondsey resident Jean Attridge received a letter of commendation for work in the community.

The citation for her award reads: "As chair of the Longfield Estate Tenants' and Residents' Association, Jean has organised trips, line-dancing sessions and other activities for young and old alike."

Paul Yarrow, secretary of the Nelson Square Gardens Community Association, also received the same honour.

There was also a letter of commendation for Southwark Cathedral Education Centre.

Doris Webb received the honorary liberty of the old borough of Southwark "...in recognition of ... indefatigable service as governor of St Jude's Primary School, as a trustee of the City, Lambeth & Southwark Music Education Trust and as a parochial church council member for over 20 years at St George the Martyr church".

The Borough-based British School of Osteopathy received the honorary liberty of the old borough of Southwark in recognition of its provision of outreach clinics for the needy.

Nell Western – a local resident for half a century – received the same honour "in recognition of ... involvement in the Tabard Gardens North Tenants' and Residents' Association, as caretaker of Hankey Hall and for the activities she organises for elderly people".

Geoffrey Chaucer Technology College pupil Samuel Thorpe and Notre Dame School pupil Ayowunmi Nuga were jointly named Southwark Young People of the Year in recognition of the role they played as ambassadors for the borough in the United States last year.

The lifetime achievement award was presented to Borough resident Jack Hames, proprietor of the Copyprints Business Centre in Talbot Yard.

The award was presented "...in recognition of Mr Hames' service to the community as a teacher and headmaster at St George's School, his dedication to St George the Martyr church and his kind and generous acts for people and charities in Southwark".

A posthumous award was granted to community activist Keib Thomas who died last summer. It was collected by his widow.