Nominees for Mayor’s Award revealed
The three nominees for the Mayor’s Pride of Dudley Award have been announced, with a public vote now open to decide the winner.
Swinford Pharmacy, 2488 (Kingswinford) Squadron Air Training Corps (ATC) and Hope’s Christmas Hampers - based at New Hope Baptist Church in Coseley - will vie for votes to take the prize.
The three groups have been selected personally by the Mayor of Dudley, Councillor Hilary Bills, following hundreds of visits made across the borough during her year in office.
The public vote is open until 11.45pm on Friday April 11, and people can vote online at www.mayorofdudley.org.uk/mayorsaward.
The award will be given out as part of the Mayor’s Ball and Civic Awards, being held at The Copthorne Hotel, Brierley Hill, on Friday April 25.
Hope’s Christmas Hampers is a small group operating out of New Hope Baptist Church. The volunteers collect donations and use them to assemble and deliver Christmas hampers and turkeys to families in need during the festive season.
Davinder Gardner, co-ordinator for the group, said:
“We are delighted and thankful to be considered for the Mayor’s award.
“We set up our Christmas hamper initiative to serve our local community and to lend a helping hand where it’s needed.
“We couldn’t do what we do without our amazing volunteers who donate, pack and deliver the food and gifts. We also are indebted to our local businesses who have supported us with their time and incredibly generous donations.”
Swinford Pharmacy, based in Oldswinford, Stourbridge, has become a one-stop health centre serving all of the community and was cited by the mayor as “an example to all as to how to serve your community”.
Olutayo Arikawe, of Swinford Pharmacy, said:
“It is a great honour, and I am so humbled to be nominated for the Mayors Award.
“At Swinford Pharmacy we always strive for excellence and endeavour to go the extra mile for our patients and customers.
“Our staff – the A team as I fondly call them - are dedicated and I am thankful to them because we are able to provide a consistent excellent service due to their commitment and support.”
Finally, to represent young people in the borough, the first citizen has nominated 2488 (Kingswinford) Squadron Air Training Corps. One of its members, Izzy Guest, is the mayor’s chosen military cadet and has accompanied her on several civic visits.
Paul Burns, squadron commanding officer, said:
“I am deeply honoured that the Mayor has nominated us.
“Since the formation of the squadron in 1969, we have a long history of working within the local community and we are very proud of our heritage in the Black Country.
“It would be a great honour if we won but if we didn’t, it wouldn’t change our commitment to our cadets watching them grow into better, more confident and respectable young people in our community.”
Councillor Hilary Bills, the Mayor of Dudley, said:
“It was so difficult to choose, as we have visited so many wonderful and inspirational people and groups this year doing wonderful things in their communities.
“We have after much deliberation managed to whittle it down to a final three and the public vote is now open, so I would urge people to get in touch and vote for their favourite.
“Whoever wins will be fully deserving of it, and I look forward to seeing the result on April 25."