A WINSFORD man is to be the first name on a prestigious roll of honour which recognises stalwarts in the community.

Alan Ravenscroft, of Station Road, has been named as the first winner of the Vale Royal Mayor's Award for Endeavour in the Community.

The Mayor of Vale Royal, Clr Keith Musgrave, presented the 64-year-old with a decanter and glasses at a special presentation at Wyvern House on Monday night.

The ceremony produced a clean sweep for Winsford, with runners-up Greig Van Emmenis, aged 19, and Rod Veitch, aged 75, also residents in the town.

Clr Musgrave said he was delighted by the high standard of community work in Vale Royal by the people nominated for the award.

Mr Ravenscroft said: "I was shocked when I learned I had been shortlisted and never expected to win in a thousand years. It is a real honour to receive this award from the mayor."

He won the award for his work with the Vale Royal Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen's Families Association Help, and was nominated by David Brown, the branch training organiser.

He said: "Alan's dedication and enthusiasm goes largely unrecorded and is generally only appreciated by those with whom he has been in contact.

"His efforts, however, impact not only on clients but also their families, not only because of the financial help given but also in great measure for the emotional and mental relief given to those who could see no light at the end of their respective tunnels.

"Alan has worked unstintingly over the years and I can think of no person who has done so much for the service and ex-service personnel in our community."

New Images Youth Centre nominated Greig Van Emmenis, of Verdin Close, for the award, and his nomination form said: "This young person has become very active in running Winsford Youth Council, Youth 2000.

"Greig has been very effective at creating links between adults in the community and young people in the town.

"His voluntary work has found him helping other young people to become involved in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, where he has taken a party on a residential to Scotland on an expedition. These young people were all aged 12 to 16."

Rod Veitch, of Wingfield Place, was put forward by Vale Royal Child Contact Centre.

The nomination form said: "We have great pleasure in nominating Rod Veitch for his outstanding contribution in the setting up and the subsequent running of the Vale Royal Child Contact Centre.

"The centre's aim is to offer a friendly and welcoming place, providing neutral ground where children can meet their other parent or other family members when parents have separated.

"The Vale Royal centre was set up by volunteers early in 1994 and Rod was active in helping at its inception.

"He is still the co-ordinator and his quiet, modest leadership has resulted in a united and happy group of volunteers carrying out their duties at the centre and providing a valuable service to the community."

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