Runnymede civic awards

Here are the winners and highly commended nominations from the 2025

Arts

Cultural Organisation of Year

Winner: Pride Hub

The pride hub offers a much-needed safe space for the LGBTQ+ community of Surrey. They have recently relocated to Egham and offer lots of free services including feminine hygiene products, workshops, events and signposting support. 

Young Musician of the Year

Winners: Abigail Shaw & Seren Stirling-Williams

Both Abigail & Seren originally took part in music lessons given by the Egham Band in School and subsequently joined the Thorpe Brass Club where they played the cornet.  They have since progressed quickly through the ranks and have now passed their Grade 3 music exams and are part of the Egham Youth Band, and they are that good that they even perform at some of the senior band engagements on occasions.

Arts Group of the Year

Winner: Spotlights 

Nikki Rutter runs Spotlights which is a community performing arts group. Nikki has run theatre groups for over 27 years and writes and choregraphs all shows around the needs of the individuals.  Spotlights has 22 adult performers who all have some form of learning or physical disability.  The aim of the group is to promote inclusion, learn valuable life skills and build confidence – focussing on what they can do, rather than what they can’t.  

Highly Commended: Susan Roberts Academy 

Susan Roberts has been helping disadvantaged children access performing arts training in Surrey for 27 years.  The Susan Roberts Academy team and community have been responsible for sparking lifelong passion for dance and performing arts amongst their members. Their emphasis on being a caring community makes them stand out from other dance schools making a huge difference to the lives of children involved.

Highly Commended: Runnymede Art Society

Runnymede Art Society is celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2025 and there are now over 50 members. They meet weekly for art sessions and put on 2 exhibitions a year. They are a welcoming group that also support residents with dementia and Ukrainian refuges, helping them to become part of a caring community.

Sports and Fitness Category

Sportsperson of the Year

Winner: Amanda Heath

Amanda is a World record holder for breaststroke events in the 65-69 age group in Masters swimming. In 2024 she won 4 events at the World Masters Aquatics Championships in Qatar, including 200 metre butterfly, in which she broke the European record. In the European Masters she won 7 gold medals. She is well known in the GB Masters swimming community, and in 2024 also participated in podcasts on training and competing to help support others coming up the ranks. 

Young Sportsperson of the Year

Winner: Emily Nicholas

Emily is the first rower from Sir William Perkins’ School to ever win a medal at the World Rowing U19 Championships. She did so during the Summer of 2024 in Canada as the youngest member of the GB women’s team, aged only 16, racing in the U19 Women’s Coxless Four.  Her commitment to the sport is exceptional, training ten sessions each week, and playing a leading role in the strong and inclusive atmosphere at the school’s Boat Club. 

Highly Commended: Adam Letras

Adam from Core Judo demonstrates outstanding personal sacrifice to Judo, his club and the wider community. He volunteers at his old junior school and club, in order to help inspire the next generation. His hard work has been rewarded placing 2nd in the British Championships and becoming part of the Great Britain cadet team. 

Highly Commended: Sophie Clark

Sophie competes at a high level in indoor and outdoor athletics.  She was selected to be part of the Berkshire County team for the South East regional Sportshall final and took home the gold medal in the 4-lap event. Sophie also plays football and has been an integral member of the Manorcroft United Juniors U15 Girls team for over 5 years.    

Highly Commended: Tiana Hall-Duffy

In Year 6 Tiana was told by doctors she would never be able to do sports again due to a severe ankle injury, however that didn’t stop her passion for football and now regularly attends the Chelsea FC training academy.  She has set up a girls football team in her school, is actively involved in many workshops including ‘no room for racism’ and ‘women empowerment’. Tiana also takes part in many other sports including rowing and badminton.

Sports Coach of the Year

Winner: Nick Ingham

Nick is a coach at Knowle Hill Tennis Club which now has a record level of 230 members, and much of this is due to the time and effort Nick puts in. Nick provides an excellent coaching programme and tennis camps during the holidays for juniors of all ages, and over the past few years has expanded the range of additional free activities. Nick has a natural ability to motivate and inspire all players, including the less sporty ones, and brings humour and fun to his sessions. 

Highly Commended: Ian Selley

Ian is an ex-professional Arsenal footballer and 5 years ago set up his academy (PPA) based at Abbey Rangers in Addlestone. PPA provides a centre of excellence for all age groups and players of any level of ability in a fun-filled environment. In his spare time, Ian volunteers at local schools to deliver coaching sessions and cares deeply about the local community.

Highly Commended: Kyle Francis

According to the members of Runnymede Raptors Basketball Club, Kyle is an excellent coach who is always supportive and motivates them to give their best at all times. Kyle always goes above and beyond despite having a hectic personal life and working full time too.

Health & Wellbeing Award

Winner: Rosie Williams-Taylor

At just 11 years old Rosie has tirelessly and selflessly raised awareness for mens mental health over the last few years since losing a close family friend to suicide. This year Rosie has been working non-stop on fundraising activities and attending awareness events all whilst starting her new secondary school. Rosie’s desire to help people and the imagination behind her events is admirable - there is something very powerful about a child letting adults know it is ok to talk. 

Highly Commended: Cheryl Richards & Emily Perrier

Cheryl and Emily play a key part in the Runnymede & Spelthorne Wellness Community. They both have impressive stories in their own wellness journeys that brought them together. Their focus is on real, relatable wellness and their vision for creating a safe space for everyone to share, learn, and grow. Whether it’s through physical fitness, mental wellness support, or creative activities they are making wellness accessible and engaging for everyone. 

Highly Commended: Tiny Terrapins Swim School

Tiny Terrapins Swim School  ensures that community is at the heart of everything they do.  They have launched a WhatsApp support group for new mums, a nappy & clothes swap bank, and social activities to meet new parents.  They have also conquered the barriers of single parenting by providing poolside childcare for those that need it.

Sports Volunteer of the Year

Winner: Pauline Carter  

Pauline manages the weekly Egham Constellations Assisted Swim Session which provides assistance to disabled people in the pool. She also organises transport, equipment and the club’s social events. Pauline has an immense heart and cares for people with a passion. Even with all her own health challenges, she will leave no stone unturned to help someone else and leads the group with a steady, secure and compassionate hand. 

Highly Commended: Sue Blesset

Sue is an invaluable asset to Chertsey Bowls Club, showing unwavering dedication to the club and its members, promoting inclusivity and attracting younger players. She has been the driving force behind several successful fundraising campaigns that have enabled the club to thrive. Sue's commitment extends to the upkeep of the facilities and has worked closely with the Council, local volunteers, and members to maintain the clubhouse, bowling green and surrounding gardens to a high standard. 

Sports Club of the Year

Winner: Manorcroft United Football Club

Manorcroft is a football club for boys and girls aged from 5 to 18, and adults, with 28 league registered teams. In 2024 they were awarded The King’s Award for Voluntary Service - equivalent to an MBE. 
The club teaches its 300 junior members the importance of teamwork, self-belief, determination and leadership. Their ethos, ‘Unite, Develop, Progress’ runs through everything the club does.

Highly Commended: Core Judo  

Core Judo is a unique and amazing example of a community-focused organisation that is committed to fostering inclusivity and accessibility for the entire community. They are not just a Judo club; they are a vibrant hub that uses the power of sport to strengthen community bonds and break down barriers.

Highly Commended: Runnymede Raptors Basketball Club

Runnymede Raptors are growing year on year and currently have 10 teams & opportunities for children & adults to learn & play within the sport.  Last year they won the playoff championships, and have this year launched girls basketball which is thriving.  Raptors is a club like no other - everybody feels valued, included, and respected regardless of race, ethnicity and ability. 

Community

Environment & Sustainability Award

Winner: Richard Emmett

Richard volunteers as a leader and mentor at the Gardening and Bee Keeping Clubs at The Hub. His passion for beekeeping has inspired and educated countless families, children, and community members. He has created a space where people can learn about the vital role bees play in our ecosystem and his engaging approach has made learning about beekeeping and conservation both accessible and enjoyable. By helping schools procure and set up their own hives, Richard provides children with invaluable hands-on learning experiences, fostering a lifelong appreciation for these endangered pollinators and the importance of preserving them.

Highly Commended: Chandos Road Toad Patrol

The Toad Patrol is a group of volunteers who help toads safely migrate across local roads to their breeding ponds. During the migration they are at risk of being killed by cars or people on the roads, so the volunteers go out with buckets and torches in the wet cold February evenings to collect them and take them safely to the pond. In 2024 over 500 adult toads and countless toadlets were moved and saved.

Highly Commended: Runnymede Junior Rangers

Overseen by rangers from the National Trust, the Runnymede Junior Rangers programme has seen 20 young people from the local area giving up their Sundays to engage in environmental initiatives. They have engaged in tree planting, introducing some of Surrey's rarest species into new areas, the protection and enhancement of ponds which are home to valuable amphibian populations, and the creation of other microhabitats to benefit a wide range of plants and animals. They work in all weathers and deliver environmental improvements that will benefit people and wildlife across Runnymede.

Making a Difference Award

Winner: Jonathan Fisher

Jonathan is a member of Surrey Coalition of Disabled People and has no sight… yet he constantly uses his time and lived experience to make a difference for other people and puts his heart and soul into everything he does. He's Chair of the Talking Newspaper, an organisation that helps local people with low or no sight to access the local news.  He’s an active member of Surrey Vision Action Group and this year campaigned against floating bus stops at No.10.  He is also a member of the Independent Advisory Group for Surrey Police and River Thames Scheme, ensuring that everything is accessible to all.

Highly Commended: Chrissy McCourts

Chrissy runs a charity called The Hope Hub which is for girls aged 12-17 to attend weekly meetings to discuss lots of relevant topics.  She is a very busy lady but still makes time for vulnerable teens in order to make a real difference in their lives.  In addition to the meetings, she also organises trips such as theatre visits, giving them life experiences. The Hope Hub is an invaluable and supportive club which is there for young women during a time in their lives that can be very tricky for some.

Highly Commended: Valerie Verity

Valerine is loved by many in Virginia Water for her community engagement and passion for making a difference. 

During 2024 Valerie set about raising the required funds to convert a phone box into a defibrillator site. The phone box has now been restored to its former glory and is capable of saving lives. Valerie is also responsible for the annual Village Christmas Tree and light switch-on event… the amount of time and dedication Valerie gives to make Virginia Water sparkle (not just at Christmas) is admirable. 

Young Volunteer of the Year

Winner: Holme Farm Young Volunteers, Thomas Lane, Matthew Lane & Megan Grummett 

Thomas, Matthew and Megan have been regular volunteers at Holme Farm helping with the improvement of the outdoor site. They carry out tasks with real understanding and care - for them it is not just work, but learning and developing a genuine and ongoing bond with the land.  They act as role models and leaders for newer volunteers. During 2024, they sowed seeds to encourage mixed trees which are native to Surrey and created a pond which attracts different types of insects and natural life. They have become true guardians of this piece of Runnymede land.

Highly Commended: Cameron Maddison-Butcher

Cameron is a volunteer with the 1st/4th Addlestone Spinney Hill Beaver Colony and has consistently demonstrated an outstanding commitment and makes significant contributions through his dedication and selfless service. His positive attitude is infectious and he routinely goes above and beyond… organising fun games, teaching new skills, and helping to set up community events - an inspiring example for others.

Highly Commended: Charlie Smyth

Charlie is an exceptional Young Leader with 1st Virginia Water Beavers. He consistently demonstrates remarkable dedication, passion, responsibility and generally going above and beyond in everything that he does. The judges were impressed with his service to the colony combined with his ability to communicate with young people in a calm and collective way.

Volunteer of the Year

Winner: Chrissie Webster

Chrissie is a volunteer at Rivermede Court Care Home where she shares her creative ideas for art with the residents. She also supports with residents trips out, giving her time freely and willingly – all she ever wants is to see the residents happy and enjoying themselves. Chrissie has helped with many fundraising events in the Egham community, including setting up and manning stalls. And on top of all that she is also the resident Rivermede hairdresser and manicurist! Chrissie is loved by all the residents and a true shining star. 

Highly Commended: Annie Moore

Annie has been described as dedicated, highly skilled, valued and an immensely hardworking volunteer at Holme Farm. She volunteers 5 days a week, managing the allotment and a team of over 20 gardeners to assist in growing vegetables for the benefit of the community and supplying both community kitchens and an on-site market stall. Annie also supports several people with health issues ensuring they are involved, and works with groups such as Halow and Meath School on the allotment. 

Highly Commended: Catherine Foster

Catherine is the heart and soul of the Thursday Club, a community initiative that provides free and creative educational activities for children in one of the borough’s most deprived areas. She ensures that every child has a safe and welcoming space where they can explore new activities, develop life skills and build confidence. Catherine’s passion for the community and her remarkable work with The Thursday Club has a lasting impact on the children and families she serves.

Volunteer Group of the Year

Winner: Runnymede Games Club

The Games Club provides a social space to meet and interact whilst playing games. Their aim is to reduce isolation and loneliness in the community. The club has gone from strength to strength and now hosts meetings 50 weeks of the year for nearly 50 people. They also facilitate trips out across the borough and run monthly and holiday sessions for children.  The team who run it are passionate about the benefits it delivers, making sure the club is always properly staffed and providing valuable support to each other. 

Highly Commended: Hope Café at St John’s Church, Egham

The Hope Café is a remarkable organisation that has gone above and beyond to improve lives, foster connections, and cultivate a positive community spirit. By offering free, delicious lunches, they address a vital need while creating a welcoming space for all. Their dedication to supporting Ukrainian refugees has been especially inspiring… hosting events and bringing individuals together to lift their spirits during challenging times. 

Highly Commended: Royal Holloway Tea Parties Project

The Tea Parties project is a student-led initiative organised by undergraduate students at Royal Holloway University. The goal of the Tea Parties project is to combat loneliness and isolation in the local community by bringing together elderly local residents and students. They do this by hosting free monthly tea parties at the Englefield Green Village Centre, providing guests with travel to and from the centre as well as much tea, coffee and cake as they like. 

Service to Community - Individual

Winner: Christine Leach

Christine has been the driving force behind Chertsey & Addlestone Good Neighbours group for over 22 years. The group arrange to drive and accompany clients to medical appointments and day centres, take them shopping or doing it for them if needed, or just dropping round for coffee to support elderly residents who are lonely and isolated.  The demand for these services has grown dramatically, and the number of jobs they undertake has increased more than 5 fold in past five years, to nearly 6000 in 2024.  It is Christine’s dedication, hard work, energy and ability to inspire volunteers that has enabled the group to grow from the very small, to the significant local charity it now is.

Highly Commended: Mrs Chambers - The Lollipop Lady

Mrs Chambers is the "Lollipop Lady" outside St Annes School in Chertsey.  She has been seeing children safely across the road to and from school for over 30 years! Come rain or shine she is always there with her High Vis Coat and STOP sign to ensure the safety of all the parents and children who have to cross the Free Prae Road to attend School. This is quite a remarkable achievement, and all the parents and children who have to cross the road twice a day are very grateful for her service.

Highly Commended: Monica Kitchenside

Monica has been volunteering at Addlestone Community Centre for over 40 years. She acts as a Steward every week and also helps out at events such as the Craft Fairs, Older Residents' Tea Parties and the regular Brass Band Concerts. Monica also gives up her Christmas every year to help run the Salvation Army Christmas Lunch which takes several days of preparation and provides a free community event for those in need in Addlestone.

Service to Community - Organisation

Winner: White Lodge Centre

White Lodge provides services that enable those with a range of disabilities, their families and carers to lead fulfilling lives. Their vision is "a world which is inclusive to all, regardless of ability" and currently support over 1,200 individuals.  They provide many services including physiotherapy, speech and language support, a specialist nursery, respite care and lots of fun activities.

The delivery of their services is dependent on raising very substantial amounts of money each and every year and through their wonderful dedicated staff and volunteers they deliver much needed support and care to some of the most disadvantaged members of our society.

Highly Commended: County Care Independent Living - Addlestone Project Café & Enterprise

Project cafe in Addlestone is part of the County care Group. A specialist provider supporting young adults with learning disabilities and autism. They promote independence and teach life skills that are transferable into the community. Those attending are taught in the Project Café, which is open to the public which enables them to practice their skills. This cafe is fast becoming a hub and safe place for members of the Addlestone community.  

Highly Commended: St John’s Community Fridge Volunteers

The Community Fridge volunteers are a fantastic team who dedicated nearly 5500 hours to help collect, sort and redistribute 24 tonnes of food that could have been wasted during 2024. They helped to convert some of the vegetable waste to serve 753 soups and provided food to over 5000 people who use their services. They support many initiatives at the church including repair cafes, free markets, seed and plant swaps and eco-fayres.

Special Recognition Award

James Acab

James is a pupil at St. Anne's Catholic Primary School who nominated him for this award.  In June 2024, he heroically responded to his dad going into cardiac arrest at the family home. Despite being understandably terrified, James’ alertness, logical thinking and fast response saved his dad's life! He unfortunately witnessed his Dad becoming unresponsive, but he acted courageously until Paramedics arrived. James knew from then on, that Dad was in good hands. 
After a period in intensive care, fast forward to today and Dad continues to recuperate at home. The family have had to make some considerable adjustments to their lives but never once has James complained, he carries on being a hero to Dad and a wonderful, loving support to mum. 

Special Recognition Award

Sharon Vincent

Sharon was nominated for a ‘Service to the Community’ award but sadly passed away recently after the nomination had been made.  Therefore, we would like to recognise everything Sharon did for the community this evening with this Special Recognition Award.  Sharon joined the Executive Committee of Elmbridge, Runnymede and Spelthorne Talking newspaper in 2017. Her radiant personality provided encouragement to new and existing listeners, and as many of the listeners are well into advancing years Sharon patiently resolved problems with care at all times. 

Sharon also volunteered with the Egham Constellations and her lived experience of life-long pain helped many others in a similar situation to enjoy regular exercise. Whenever a new member joined Sharon was always banishing their fears and building friendly relationships dispersing any fears of meeting new strangers. 

Despite her own mobility problems and increasing medical issues, Sharon could always raise a smile and a cheery disposition and put many fully able-bodied adults to shame and will be sadly missed.

Mayor’s Special Recognition Award - Personally selected by the Mayor of Runnymede, Cllr Elaine Gill.

Ian & Carol Hughes

Ian and Carol have been described as true community heroes and are involved in a volunteering capacity across many organisations across the borough.  They were nominated by White Lodge where their contribution was described as simply staggering, including:

• Taking a leading role in the fundraising volunteer group, setting up stands and engaging with members of the public to raise awareness and fundraise. 
• Hosting and helping to organise numerous corporate volunteering days 
• Ian is the EBay sales volunteer fundraiser. He takes donations, researches them, re-furbishes them and sells the items - raising over £2,000 to date.
• In total they have donated nearly 2000 hours of voluntary service to White Lodge alone.

However, on top of that they also volunteer at:

• Care in Egham and District 
• Runnymede Food Bank 
• Princess Alice Hospice 
• Egham Royal Show
• NHS at St Peter’s Hospital and Healthwatch Surrey

What makes them so special is their positive and infectious energy. They are solution focused, generous with their time and helpful to others. They are the ultimate team players and inspire others to come on board too.  We are lucky to have them as part of the Community of Runnymede.