The Greenwood Volunteer Awards 2019
11 September at the Swancar Farm, Trowell.
Just as the event was coming to a close the Chair, Margret Vince, was surprised when Rob Carlyle came to the podium to make one last award...
My name is Rob Carlyle and I am Chair of the Friends of Bestwood Country Park. I’d like to pay tribute to two people that work especially hard.
Firstly, a special mention for Sue McDonald who works for Nottinghamshire County Council and has been involved in the park for many years. Her energy and commitment to Bestwood Country Park goes way beyond that of her paid remit. Sue is very much the public face of the park, galvanising volunteers and students into action and running immensely-popular walks, and other events. Her wise counsel has salted many of our meetings and helped the group become the positive force that it is. We are very much the poorer when other commitments prevent her attendance.
Sue organises an annual Christmas party for park volunteers, personally baking individual mince pies with each volunteer's name piped in icing as well as an individual gift knitted by herself. (If you believe that you'll believe anything - Ed)
This year has seen Sue take her commitment to the park to another level entirely. When Andy’s Adventure Playground was closed due to safety concerns there was a public outcry. The playground had been set up to honour the memory of local lad Andrew Maycock. It was Sue who stepped up and worked with the Maycock family to make sure a refurbished park was accomplished. We recognise that the completion of the application process was way outside Sue's 'comfort zone’ and immensely stressful but successful and we thank her for her hard work.
The second person I would like to pay tribute to deserves the highest award. She has been an amazing and indispensable part the Friends of Bestwood Country Park almost from its inception. Members recall her early attendance at meetings being characterised by her knitting in the corner. However, woolly thinking is something she can never be accused of. She has been Chair of the group and is currently minuting secretary and organiser of our incredibly successful Dynamo House café.
This is a volunteer cafe that runs on Saturdays and Bank Holidays throughout the year, the proceeds from which go to support the Friends. This incredibly talented lady acts as shift leader and server as well as taking on the onerous task of organising the helpers' and bakers’ rotas. In addition, she organises our support of the Notts Biodiversity Action Group Forum refreshments. Hugely successfully.
This year all proceeds from our baking endeavours were donated to Andy’s Adventure Playground appeal. As mentioned earlier, the appeal was outstandingly successful, and the refurbished playground stands as splendid testimony to her drive and determination. We hope that playground will go on to give thousands of children years of pleasure and lead them to have a love of our park, of nature and the great outdoors.
During extended dialogue between the friends’ group and Nottinghamshire County Council, when management of the park was moved to Gedling Borough Council, her sharp intellect helped cut through the issues and achieve a clarity that wouldn’t have been there without her participation.
I should add that, in addition to all of the foregoing, she is the Chair of the Friends of Greenwood Community Forum, taking on the mantle, when, at the AGM in 2017, everyone else around the table was suddenly very interested in the floor. I know she found it difficult to adjust to this role, having not been involved in the Forum much before that. However, she has adjusted, beyond words. The committee say she has given life to the group at a time when the forum could have easily folded. Her style is nurturing, calm and purposeful. A shining light, she has guided the Forum to the completion of one project and through the first year of another.
Your fellow volunteers know that, without you, our park would be very much the poorer and hope that an award, which is our way of saying a huge ‘thank you’ for the extra miles you constantly tread on behalf of Bestwood Country Park. All I can add is - Margret - you’re a star. Thank you. Come up and receive your award
For photos of the event see the gallery.
My name is Rob Carlyle and I am Chair of the Friends of Bestwood Country Park. I’d like to pay tribute to two people that work especially hard.
Firstly, a special mention for Sue McDonald who works for Nottinghamshire County Council and has been involved in the park for many years. Her energy and commitment to Bestwood Country Park goes way beyond that of her paid remit. Sue is very much the public face of the park, galvanising volunteers and students into action and running immensely-popular walks, and other events. Her wise counsel has salted many of our meetings and helped the group become the positive force that it is. We are very much the poorer when other commitments prevent her attendance.
Sue organises an annual Christmas party for park volunteers, personally baking individual mince pies with each volunteer's name piped in icing as well as an individual gift knitted by herself. (If you believe that you'll believe anything - Ed)
This year has seen Sue take her commitment to the park to another level entirely. When Andy’s Adventure Playground was closed due to safety concerns there was a public outcry. The playground had been set up to honour the memory of local lad Andrew Maycock. It was Sue who stepped up and worked with the Maycock family to make sure a refurbished park was accomplished. We recognise that the completion of the application process was way outside Sue's 'comfort zone’ and immensely stressful but successful and we thank her for her hard work.
The second person I would like to pay tribute to deserves the highest award. She has been an amazing and indispensable part the Friends of Bestwood Country Park almost from its inception. Members recall her early attendance at meetings being characterised by her knitting in the corner. However, woolly thinking is something she can never be accused of. She has been Chair of the group and is currently minuting secretary and organiser of our incredibly successful Dynamo House café.
This is a volunteer cafe that runs on Saturdays and Bank Holidays throughout the year, the proceeds from which go to support the Friends. This incredibly talented lady acts as shift leader and server as well as taking on the onerous task of organising the helpers' and bakers’ rotas. In addition, she organises our support of the Notts Biodiversity Action Group Forum refreshments. Hugely successfully.
This year all proceeds from our baking endeavours were donated to Andy’s Adventure Playground appeal. As mentioned earlier, the appeal was outstandingly successful, and the refurbished playground stands as splendid testimony to her drive and determination. We hope that playground will go on to give thousands of children years of pleasure and lead them to have a love of our park, of nature and the great outdoors.
During extended dialogue between the friends’ group and Nottinghamshire County Council, when management of the park was moved to Gedling Borough Council, her sharp intellect helped cut through the issues and achieve a clarity that wouldn’t have been there without her participation.
I should add that, in addition to all of the foregoing, she is the Chair of the Friends of Greenwood Community Forum, taking on the mantle, when, at the AGM in 2017, everyone else around the table was suddenly very interested in the floor. I know she found it difficult to adjust to this role, having not been involved in the Forum much before that. However, she has adjusted, beyond words. The committee say she has given life to the group at a time when the forum could have easily folded. Her style is nurturing, calm and purposeful. A shining light, she has guided the Forum to the completion of one project and through the first year of another.
Your fellow volunteers know that, without you, our park would be very much the poorer and hope that an award, which is our way of saying a huge ‘thank you’ for the extra miles you constantly tread on behalf of Bestwood Country Park. All I can add is - Margret - you’re a star. Thank you. Come up and receive your award
For photos of the event see the gallery.
