The first Midsomer Norton Civic Awards took place in 2008, and with two missed years in 2020, this was the fourteenth award ceremony.

The Civic Awards are an opportunity for the Town Council to recognise and say thank you to members of the community who have shown kindness, carried out good work, and achieved great things for Midsomer Norton.

There are lifetime awards for those who contribute over a longer period, individual awards, and awards to recognise the good work of groups. The people and groups who are recognised in this way are appreciated both for their service, and for their willingness to come forward and accept the symbolic thanks of the town, which helps to build community pride and resilience over time.

Everybody who attended the awards ceremony on Saturday, 28th November at the Somer Centre received a nomination from the public.

Fifteen awards were given in total. Presenting those awards were Dom Chambers, founder of local radio station Somer Valley FM and skills-based charity Sound Vision; Mayor of Midsomer Norton, Gordon Mackay and former Mayor and long-standing Midsomer Norton Town Councillor, Lynda Robertson.

The awards catagories and winners for this year were as follows:

Four awards were handed out for the ‘Community Group of the Year’ category. They were awarded to SWALLOW Charity, Welton Church Runners, Midsomer Norton Community Association and the Winter Warmers Volunteers.

The ‘Community Project of the Year’ was awarded to the Midsomer Norton Community Trust - Cultural Consortium.

‘Community Volunteer of the Year’ was awarded to Jo Davis of Somer Valley FM. Jo was nominated by former Radio Manager Richard Burgess, who said, “When the first Covid lockdown was announced, Jo was asked whether she would consider presenting a Breakfast Show, to help spread some cheer whilst keeping listeners updated on the latest pandemic news. She was doing brilliantly entertaining, informing, and educating our local listeners.

“Finally, lockdown restrictions eased in early 2022, and Jo returned to work for the Midsomer Norton Schools Partnership. But this did not deter her radio desires. Jo continued to awake every weekday morning at 5.45am, or, after two snoozes, at 5.51am, get ready, travel in from Peasedown St John, and present two hours of consistently fabulous radio from 7am until 9am every weekday.

“We attend numerous outside events, which includes every Farmer’s Market, along with all Midsomer Norton Festivals. Jo always attends, which several Councillors can testify to. She is a credit to her family, Somer Valley FM, and the Midsomer Norton area. With her commitment and dedication to our local area, day-in-day-out for over three years, she is a worthy winner for the category.”

An award was given for ‘Sports Achievement of the Year’ to Hugh Jeffery. At the time of nomination Hugh had scored thirty tries in eighteen games, making him the fifth highest male scorer in country and second at amateur level.

Four awards were given for ‘Contribution to Civic Life’. These went to Helen Green, Alistair Slade, Nick Sperring and Welton Rovers Social Club.

‘Community Youth Group of the Year’ was awarded to 1st Midsomer Norton Scout Group. Their award was presented by Gordon Mackay, who explained, “Every week 1st Midsomer Norton Scouts educates and entertains around one hundred and fifty people (young members, leaders and helpers), developing skills for life on their scouting journey. It’s so important to have community groups like these in Midsomer Norton, run by the volunteer leaders who give so much of their time.”

Three awards were given out to local residents who have contributed to community life over a long period of time. The ‘Lifetime Achievement Awards’ were handed to:

Rosemary Blatchford for her contribution to the Community Trust, Paradis Trio Concerts, Community Cinema, National Theatre Live, and Midsomer Norton Fayre. Rosemary also took it upon herself to raise £4108.50 for the RUH Breast Cancer Care unit this year at her ladies who lunch garden party.

William Weller, who has been running the free legal advice surgery at Thatcher + Hallam for almost forty years, volunteering his own time between 5pm and 6pm every Thursday, helping hundreds of people in the local Midsomer Norton community with his free legal advice initiative.

Roger Bowring, for his volunteer work at SWALLOW Charity, where he has been dedicating his time for ten years this month! Roger helps to run two singing sessions each week at SWALLOW on a Wednesday and a Friday. Despite having a mild learning disability himself and a wife with learning disability and physical disabilities, Roger never misses a session at SWALLOW and he always remains calm despite frequent arguments over song choices.

Following the event, Dom Chambers, who hosted the awards evening, said: “It was a pleasure to present these awards and see first hand just how thriving community life is in Midsomer Norton.

“In these difficult times it is wonderful that so many people and groups are going the extra mile to help others. This event showed how the Town Council are leading on this by recongising our community heroes with these awards.”