The Commons Touch Column – Nov 2009

Going around our District visiting various groups and organisations, I never cease to be inspired and humbled by the very many people who give freely of their time, energy and expertise. These are the real unsung heroes who hold our community together. So I’m delighted to have been able recently to organise recognition of the efforts of just a few of those individuals.

Once, anyone could walk into Downing Street and pose for a photo outside the famous door to Number 10. Sadly, tight security requirements mean that those days are long gone and you need an official invitation to get through the checkpoint at the junction with Whitehall, and even then you have to go through an airport-style security screening operated by armed police officers. So, fewer people nowadays get a chance to visit the house that has been the residence of all British Prime Ministers dating back to Sir Robert Walpole.

It was thus a privilege to accompany three local people to ‘Community Heroes’ receptions at No 10 in the last few weeks. These events were laid on by Prime Minister Gordon Brown and his wife Sarah to give proper thanks to key people playing a leading role in local communities. The big problem is who to choose - because there are so many potential nominees.

This year, I was able to take Kathy Belfield, Tourism Co-ordinator for North West Leicestershire who is based at Ashby Tourist Information Centre; Nita Pearson, Chair of The Friends of Thringstone and Ken Hillier; Chairman of Ashby de la Zouch Museum : local author and lecturer; trustee of Grace Dieu Priory and of Sir John Moore Foundation, Appleby Magna.

I’ve known Kathy throughout her years at the Tourist Information Centre. She is one of those people who is always prepared to go the extra mile, not just to promote North West Leicestershire to visitors but supporting a host of local community organisations in promoting their events from coffee mornings to canal festivals to concerts.

The Friends of Thringstone have recently won the District Council’s Footprints Challenge Awards for Partnership and Communities and were awarded an outstanding achievement certificate for East Midlands in Bloom in the Neighbourhoods category; as Chair, Nita represented everyone connected with The Friends of Thringstone. For I know that all the committee and members work tirelessly to ensure that the village's community spirit is alive and well, and that they encourage people to visit the village by promoting its history through literature and walks and by keeping it clean and inviting by laying on litter picks and planting schemes.

For Ken Hillier, it was an expression of gratitude for all of the work he has so readily undertaken in Ashby Museum over a long period of years; catalysing the collection of (and interpreting) the artefacts, documents, photographs and reminiscences which form the essential history and culture of Ashby-de-la-Zouch, as well as his crucial involvement with the committee in acquiring and developing the fine new home for all of this material. It just could not have happened in the same way or at the same rate without his unfailing professionalism, diplomacy, energy, enthusiasm, commitment and leadership.

I recently also took part in Make a Difference Day. This event, run by CSV (Community Service Volunteers), is the UK’s largest day of volunteering, with an estimated 50,000 being involved. The aim is to take action through simple, kind acts that anybody can do for a stranger, a neighbour or a community.

I supported The Friends of Thringstone by planting bulbs to brighten up a corner of the village and attended a ‘celebration of village life’ at the George and Dragon public house. While there, I presented certificates to brother and sister Bill Newton and Ann Petty whose voluntary efforts have helped ‘make a difference’ to their home village

Later that day, I joined the local police on evening patrol in Ibstock, Ellistown and Heather with veteran beat bobby PC Roy Houghton and another volunteer, Anthony Perry, to keep a Halloween eye on trick or treating to ensure that the fun for some did not turn into anti-social nuisance for others.

Looking ahead, I’ve got one more trip to Number 10 lined up when I’ll be accompanying Rev Jill Willett to a Christmas Heroes reception to celebrate the efforts of those in our local communities who make Christmas special by their commitment to help others. Jill works with men and women with dependence issues who live ‘on the margins’ in the Greenhill area. She’ll be working as normal on Christmas Day to give a proper Christmas Dinner to all of those who attend her weekly drop in.

So, a special thanks to these local individuals as representatives of all the army of local people who contribute to our community through voluntary effort.

What a shame we have no local awards for North West Leicestershire to recognise more of these community heroes. There are some local ones such as Ashby Town Council’s Civic Awards and Ashby Woulds’ Jubilee Awards, but nothing for the whole of North West Leicestershire. I’m happy to set the ball rolling by providing a trophy - so how about it NWLDC or Coalville Times?

David Taylor
MP for North West Leicestershire