Nine community heroes gathered for a special ceremony in the town hall last Friday, January 23. The award winners have helped the community in ways ranging from running a netball club to organising the town’s poppy appeal or setting up the First World War remembrance website wokinghamremembers.com The winners had to be nominated by two people and had a brief testimonial read before being presented with an engraved award by town mayor Martin Bishop. They were also given tickets to the mayor’s concert at Sindlesham Court in April as well as an invitation to the election of the town’s new mayor in May.

Cllr Bishop said: “It was so good to see so many people there having been nominated for this award. To think there are so many doing such valuable work in the community.” David Dunham was given the award for his work organising the Wokingham poppy appeal which he has done for the past few years.

He said: “My father, Albert, won the award in the first year of the awards, 1997. I was talking to Nikki Payler [the mayor’s secretary]. As far as we know it’s the first time direct family have won the award.

“My father was the town mace bearer for 22 years and he is one of only 12 people in the history of Wokingham to be given the freedom of the town.” Pat Harper set up the Wokingham Netball Club and has been coaching there since 1970. The club has more than 150 members across all age groups.

She said: “The girls who were at the awards with me put it up on Facebook and as soon as I walked through the door people said well done.

“I didn’t know about it until I got a letter saying I’d won the award after Christmas. I phoned people who nominated me and they explained what was going on.

“It’s nice because the people that nominated me are all new. They havejoined in the last five years.” Jessamy Wilson was given the ward after her work with the scouts, beavers and cubs. “There have been quite a lot of congratulations from all over the place,” she said. “There have been congratulations from beaver and cub parents. We’re looking at setting up a new scout group but we’re always short of leaders.” If anyone is interested in leading a scout group visit http://www.1stemmbrook.com/ for details.