7 - Mayor’s Civic Awards winners named

Mike Abrahams, winner of the Mayor's Award at the Mayor's Civic Awards 2008

A world champion archer, a keep fit fanatic and a renowned historian were among the winners at the fifth anniversary of the Mayor’s Civic Awards.

The Mayor of Dudley presented exclusive hand-crafted glassware to the winners at a prestigious ceremony last night(THURS).

Steve Prowse won the Duncan Edwards award for sport after impressing judges with his string of archery world titles.

Steve, from Wordsley, who is visually impaired, won gold in the 2003 Paralympics European Championships and in the World Championships in South Korea last year.

The runner-up in the same category was soccer boss Shane Stevens. Shane, from Dudley, has run the Wren’s Nest Football Club for over 10 years, and helped raise more than £50,000 to take the team on four international tournaments around the globe.

Jean Hughes, won the Frank Foley award for community spirit, after running keep fit classes for more than 30 years. Jean, from Kingswinford, has also helped to raise over £89,000 for charity through her Stourbridge clubs.

The runner-up award went to Dorothy Clarke, from Pedmore. Dorothy has helped run Pedmore Senior Citizens Group for the past 23 years, which now has over 70 members. She also runs an over 50s group as well as organising entertainment and day trips out for her members.

The winner of the Cedric Hardwicke award for arts was Gillian Bloore. Gillian, from Kingswinford, has been a member of the Dudley Festival of Music, Dance and Drama for the past 40 years. For the past eight years she has led the group as chairman, organising the annual festival which involves around 3,500 participants.

Paul Gittins picked up the runner-up award for his work promoting the visual arts in the borough. For several years he has passed on his artistic skills to young people with special educational needs, by teaching bronze casting at the Glasshouse College in Amblecote.

The Thomas Attwood award for education went to Sedgley historian Trevor Genge. As the founder member of Sedgley Local History Society, he has also published five of his collections of photography. He also gives public lectures on a range of historical topics.

Valerie Hylton, from Dudley, received the runner-up award, after impressing judges with her volunteering work at a range of after-school clubs. She also turns her talents to Salsa and Caribbean dance workshops for the Girl Guides as well as holiday activities for children.

To mark the fifth anniversary of the awards a new category was added – The Mayor’s Award. This was the only award not open to public nominations and was chosen by the Mayor of Dudley and presented to someone he felt had stood out to him during his civic engagements.

The winner was Mike Abrahams, from Kingswinford, who has been chairman of Dudley Council Volunteer Service for the past five years, but has been involved as a volunteer for almost 20 years.

Mike has also had a long association with the scouting movement, starting as a group leader in 1978 with the 1st Dawley Brook scout group, and moving onto county commissioner in 1979, a role he held for 20 years.

Mike has also been involved with the Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards scheme since 1979, when he became a leader and trainer for young people taking part in the famous awards.

He became a county advisor for the scout group on Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards in 1996, offering advice and support for groups taking part from across Dudley, Wolverhampton, Sandwell and Walsall.

Councillor David Stanley, Mayor of Dudley, said:

“It was an honour to meet so many exceptional people at the ceremony, what a wonderful way to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the awards.

“We have received a record 80 nominations this year and although it was so difficult to choose a winner, it’s been a fantastic experience and has given me a fascinating insight into the achievements of local people.

“I would like to congratulate all of the winners and runner-ups for their outstanding achievements.”

The winners were presented with unique handcrafted glassware produced by artist Allister Malcolm at Broadfield House Glass Museum.

To mark the milestone year, previous winners were also invited to the ceremony and got to meet the latest winners.

Note to Editors

The Duncan Edwards awards for sport is named after Dudley’s most famous footballing son who tragically died aged 21, in the 1958 Munich air disaster. This is for those who have achieved in any sport.

The Cedric Hardwicke Award for arts is in memory of Sir Cedric, born at Lye Cross in 1893. He went on to become a legend of the British stage and a leader of the British community in Hollywood. This is for people who have contributed to raising the profile of the arts in the borough – whether it be art, amateur dramatics, or music.

The Frank Foley Award for community spirit honours the man dubbed the British Schindler. Frank risked his life to save 10,000 Jews while working as an MI6 agent in Berlin. This is for people who make an outstanding contribution to the community.

The Thomas Attwood Award for education remembers a man, born in Halesowen in 1783, who was a leader for parliamentary reform. Thomas was instrumental in bringing about the 1832 Reform Act – which gave counties and large towns greater representation in parliament and virtually tripled the electorate. This award is for those who go above and beyond the call of duty to improve the standard of education in the borough.

A panel of judges decided the winners and runners-up in the four categories, but the Mayor’s Award was chosen by the Mayor and presented to someone who he felt had stood out to him during his civic engagements this year.

News Release Contact Information

Name:	Chris Howes
Telephone:	01384 817 403
Email:	chris.howes@dudley.gov.uk

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