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VOLUNTEER HEROES HONOURED BY SUTTON MAYOR AND MP
June 7, 2008 12:00 AM
Sutton and Cheam MP, Paul Burstow and Sutton Mayor, Cllr Brendan Hudson, hosted a tea party in the Mayor's Parlour to honour local volunteers last week (Friday 6th June). The tea was part of the local events in Volunteer Week to raise awareness of volunteering.
Local MP, Paul Burstow, asked local charities, churches, and groups to nominate a volunteer to join him at a reception in the Palace of Westminster on 24th June organised by the Experience Corp. Impressed by all the nominations Mr Burstow suggested to the Mayor a local reception to honour them all.
Paul Burstow MP said: "It was great to meet up with the volunteers and learn more about what they do. In most cases they are doing even more voluntary work than those who nominated them knew!
"You name it there is probably a volunteering opportunity to do it. Working with young people, offering advice and support, befriending, counselling, supporting disabled people, visiting care homes, the list is endless.
"I was impressed by all the nominations they showed the range and depth of commitment from volunteers in Sutton. The fact is that without our volunteers the borough would grind to a halt, each and every one of them is a hero."
ENDS
Notes to editor
The volunteers attending the tea were:
Marilyn Gordon-Jones (will also be Paul's guest at the Westminster reception)
Nominated by Sutton Lodge Day Centre who described Marilyn as a 'hands on leader'. Chair of the Trustees she cooks and manages the kitchen one day a week. Marilyn is also actively involved in meals on wheels and Age Concern.
Mrs Janice O'Donnell
Nominated for her work as a volunteer auxiliary with the Southwark Pastoral Dioceses based at St Albans Church in Gander Green Lane. Also a Trustee with the Sutton Association for the Blind.
Mr Frank Smith
Nominated by the Sutton Association for the Blind, Frank is visually impaired himself; he has been involved with SAB virtually since its formation in 1965. Frank also takes an active part in the Sutton Talking Newspaper Service.
Mr Les Wileman
Nominated by the Sutton Christian Centre in Tate Road, Les leads a team of 16 regular volunteers working with seniors in the borough, visiting care homes and working with older people and also volunteering with a local youth skating project.
Phyllis Hale
Nominated by the Sutton Housing Society, Phyllis has a wide range of volunteering roles including visiting people in hospital for Age Concern, taking part in the Sutton Sheltered Housing User Group.
Mahmood Bhatti
Nominated by the London Branch of the CPRE, Mahmood works for more than a dozen local voluntary organisations supporting vulnerable people.
Mrs Wendy Ferrell
Nominated by the Sutton Carers Centre, with many carers unable to visit the centre because of work commitments Wendy reaches out to them by telephone, being the first point of contact, assessing their wellbeing, their need for support, information or just a listening ear.
Mr Stan Graves
Nominated by British Legion, Stan has had many roles in the local Legion including providing welfare advice and support for other ex-service personnel and their families.
Mrs Patricia Johnson
Nominated by St Raphael's Hospice, Pat has been a volunteer at the hospice for 20 years working tirelessly as the Friday team leader in the day centre.
Mrs Iris Heppel
Nominated by the Sutton Seniors' Forum, Iris organises the Forums programme of coach outings and other social activities. She recently organised a seven day hotel inclusive holiday in Norfolk for a group of Forum members.
Mrs Pauline Holloway
Nominated by the Vicar at All Saints Benhilton Church, Pauline has worked for many years for the Red Cross and County level. She is also Chair of the local branch of the Macular Disease Society.
Mr Les Murrells
Nominated by the Vicar at All Saints Benhilton Church, Les has worked in many voluntary capacities for seniors in the borough. He is a trustee and helper at the Granfers Community Centre.
Miss Joan Hunt
Nominated by South Sutton Neighbourhood Association, Joan has been a very active member of the Association organising events editing the quarterly newsletter and representing the organisation in Council forums. She has a wide range of experience and service in the voluntary sector.
There are hundreds of volunteering opportunities in the borough. To find out more contact:
Volunteer Centre Sutton
31 West Street,
SUTTON,
Surrey, SM1 1SJ.
Phone: (020) 8770 4856 (with answer phone)
Email: vcsutton@suttonlea.org
Website: www.suttonvb.org.uk/index.html
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