Council bestows Citizen of Honour on three residents
The Council recognised the excellent community work of three local residents by conferring them with a Citizen of Honour award at a ceremony at The Point.
The Citizen of Honour awards are given by the Council every two years in recognition of long and exceptional service for their community. They receive a Citizen of Honour badge and certificate.
Melanie Phillips: for encouraging recycling and raising money for Kicks Count
Melanie runs a local group from her home in Bishopstoke: Recycling in aid of Kicks count -Eastleigh, Winchester & Southampton. The scheme encourages residents to recycle waste that would otherwise end up in our black bins.
Melanie has set up drop off points across the borough and her team of volunteers take bags of rubbish to her house, where she spends a considerable amount of time sorting and bagging it all up. There is also a milk bottle collection box in Sainsburys.
Not only does this help the environment it raises much needed funds in aid of Kicks Count, the UKs leading baby movement awareness campaign, helping to reduce the UK stillbirth rates.
Pat Statham: for services to the community
Pat shows a high level of dedication, enthusiasm, energy and commitment in all her work both on a personal and professional level. She is passionate about Equality and Diversity. She worked for many years in the Health and Community Team at Eastleigh Borough Council. While working, she made time to become a governor at her children’s school. She also has expertise in safeguarding ensuring that children and vulnerable people are looked after.
Now retired from the Council, she dedicates her time to the community by volunteering. She is a Trustee of the Asian Welfare and Cultural Association and she is also a trustee of One Community, a charity providing voluntary sector support and service to people wishing to live independent lives. Pat also has also volunteered her time for Shop Equality in Eastleigh.
Stan Newell: for services to the community and the Netley and Hamble Branch of the Royal British Legion
Stan is 92 years old and lives in Netley Abbey. In his early years, he was a Cub/Scout leader for the 4th Netley Division for almost 20 years. When he retired he used to drive the Community Bus for the area and helped the elderly.
He was a member of the West End Carnival band for many, many years, playing at Fetes, other village carnivals and many retirement homes and clubs. When the Band disbanded he joined the West End Brass Band, playing every week.
Stan is also a member of the British Legion and has been the President of the Netley and Hamble Branch for about 20 years. Stan has arranged the poppy collections and taken great pride in his duties on Remembrance Day. He visited schools in his area every year explaining to the youngsters the meaning of Remembrance Sunday.
The title of Citizen of Honour was created by the Borough Council in 1987 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Borough Charter. Since then, 57 people have been awarded that title, not including our three new Citizens of Honour. It is a very special and prestigious award, which recognises and celebrates those who have gone above and beyond to support and give back to our Eastleigh Borough Community.
Photo caption: Mayor of Eastleigh Cllr Cynthia Garton with (left to right) Melanie Phillips, Stan Newell and Pat Statham.