Maltby awards presented

Around 120 people packed into St Bartholomew’s Church for the area’s fifith annual civic service.

Presentations were also made for the Maltby Civic Awards during the service, which was based on the continuing celebrations to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

Rother Valley MP Kevin Barron, Lord and Lady Scarbrough and the Mayor and Mayoress of Rotherham Coun David and Sue Pickering were among the congregation.

The service, which was conducted by Rev Peter Craig Wild, Dhoe Craig Wild and Janet Franklin, started with a welcome from Maltby Town Council chairman Jon Carratt.

Coun Christine Beaumont then gave a Bible reading before the presentations for the Civic Awards took place.

The Young Person of the Year award was awarded to Sam Mitchell for his voluntary work with the Linx Youth Club.

Sam was nominated by Warren Riley, Georgina Finlayson and Maltby Linx youth team – Chalea Dunkley, Jessica Makin, Connor Renshaw, Bethanie Powell and Carley Nunns.

The Haynook pub fundraising team was given the Maltby Person of the Year award. Over many years the volunteers have raised more than £50,000, which they have given to local group and organisations and also supported a number of national charities.

The group was nominated by Dennis Dobson, Mr Philip, Margaret Keenan, Andrew Culshaw and Harry Methley.

This year Maltby Town Council introduced a special award called the Queen’s Diamond, which was awarded to former paramedic Bruce Wilson.

Mr Wilson, who retired due to ill health, has helped to save a number of lives and his services will be greatly missed by the community. Mr Wilson was unable to collect the award due to ill health but his family accepted it on his behalf.

Coun Jenny Andrews then shared her memories of when the Queen visited Maltby during 1977, before the service finished with a rendition of Jerusalem.

The celebrations continued at the Edward Dunn Memorial Hall, where guests were treated to a performance by the Maltby Pheonic Sword Dancers and a buffet.

Coun Pickering then presented certificates to all nominees of the Civic Awards