A life-saving rail worker, the founder of the highly successful Wimbledon Bookfest and an agency that has raised thousands for the Wimbledon Guild were recognised at the fourth annual Merton Community Awards.
Hosted at South Thames College’s Taste restaurant in Morden last night, the Wimbledon Guardian organised event, in conjunction with Merton Council, celebrated individuals and groups who have dedicated themselves to helping others in the borough and achieving outstanding results in the world of sport and the arts.
An audience of just over 100 was entertained by South Thames College students Eloise Sinclair and Michael Costello following a speech from leader of the council Stephen Alambritis who spoke in praise of the achievements of all those who had been nominated for the awards and called for the awards to continue for many years to come.
Michael Costello and Eloise Sinclair
A packed out auditorium
Leader of Merton Council Stephen Alambritis
Winners were warmly applauded, with huge cheers in particular for Young Person’s Achievement winner Joshua Turner and Arts and Entertainment winner Fiona Razvi.
Originally launched in 2013 as the Merton Civic Awards, the event has consistently attracted more than 100 nominations across the nine separate categories, and has been ably supported by sponsors McDonald’s, Better.org, Holiday Inn Express and the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association.
Mayor of Merton Brenda Fraser, who presented the final award for outstanding achievement, said: “I am very happy to champion the Merton Community Awards because they recognise the hard work and dedication of the borough’s unsung heroes.
“As the Mayor, I see first-hand the amazing and selfless things people do every day, often without recognition.”
She also used her speech to single out the achievements of her overall winner, nine-year-old Joshua, who has raised more than £2,000 for Cancer Research during the past two years by organising bake sale.
Mayor of Merton Brenda Fraser with Joshua Turner
Winners:
Act of Courage
Adam Langley
Estifanos Habtesellasie
Sarah Poveda
Arts and Ents
Fiona Razvi
Soo Bishop
Paul Zerdin
Business
Haygarth
Thill Srikantharajah
Tots Landing
Community
Vanessa Anenden
Paul the Irene Strank
Shirley Cave
Parent/Carer
George McAdam
Arieanne Bolt
Pushparani Ratnasingam
Teacher
Ann Ellis
Sarah Lyne
Isabella Alltraine
Sport
Diell Zejnullahu
Anthony Bravo
Jonathan Winter
Volunteer
Alison Pelikan
Martin Marshall
Lesley Sorrell
Young Person
Joshua Turner
Kwaku Amoako
Anya Wilen
Mayor’s award
Joshua Turner
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