Nine people have rewarded by the borough for their contribution to the community, and have been presented with a civic recognition award. LINDA PIPER reports.

THE award winners were all nominated by other members of the community and the nominations went before Bexley Council’s civic recognition panel for approval.

All the winners were presented with their awards by mayor Councillor Bernard Clewes at last week’s council meeting.

Eight received awards for their voluntary service and one award was for outstanding achievement.

THE outstanding achievement award went to former Tory Bexley councillor and former mayoress Jean Antenbring, who was nominated by the council’s Labour Group leader Councillor Chris Ball.

Her many acheivements include the launch of Bexley’s Environmental Challenge, in which she is still actively involved.

She has also promoted the arts in Bexley through her role on Bexley Arts Council and been instrumental in the organisation of the Bexley Past Mayors’ Association.

Mrs Antenbring is still active in conservation work, Bexley and District Club for the Disabled and still attends council meetings.

JENNIFER Breen received her award for 23 years work with the Guides especially 1st Blendon Brownies, where she is Brown Owl.

The Brownies meet at St James the Great Church in Blendon and Mrs Breen does charity work both with the Brownies and for the church, raising cash for a variety of national and local causes.

RON Holmes has been a volunteer at Queen Mary’s Hospital, Sidcup, for 26 years.

He has worked as a volunteer driver since 1983, ferrying patients to and from appointments, collecting hospital equipment from people who no longer need it and driving members of the hospital’s stroke club.

He and his wife Maria also tend the hospital gardens and help patients to eat at meal times.

FOR more than 30 years Pamela Jenkins has been working with Tapes for the Blind, the local talking newspaper.

She started as a technician but now runs the charity from an office at her home.

She also raises money to keep the service going, despite having a full-time job, and has now roped in her husband and son to help.

PUB licencees Ted and Shirley Mahoney from the Brewers Arms in Brook Street, Northumberland Heath, have raised more than £357,000 for a variety of charities over the past 20 years.

Their activities have included 20-mile walks, organising fun days, tug-of-war competitions and music evenings and charities have included Greenwich and Bexley Cottage Hospice and Cancer Research.

LOCAL historian and academic Dr John Mercer spent a working lifetime in education before turning his hand to writing and lecturing on local history, especially about Sidcup, where he lives.

He founded the Friends of Red House, the former home of William Morris and now owned by the National Trust and is also a member of Bexley Civic Society and chairman of Sidcup University of the Third Age.

THE success of the football teams at St Fidelis Catholic Primary School in Northumberland Heath can be put down to the hard work of Arthur Saldanha.

He has worked as a volunteer there for 40 years and continues to run the teams, instilling sportsmanship, team work and a healthy lifestyle into the children as well as winning a number of trophies.

BARBARA Seeley won her award for 20 years work with people with learning disabilities.

She has volunteered her time as secretary of Mencap, treasurer for Bexley and Bromley Advocacy and has chaired New Horizons from its launch by Bexley Voluntary Service Council, 15 years ago.