Scout group leader named first community champion

CHARVIL’s unsung community champions were honoured at a presentation in the village hall.

More than 50 people attended the ceremony of the inaugural Charvil Heroes awards, which were launched to celebrate those who make a positive difference to the village.

Nominations were made by residents and parish councillors made the final decision on the winners.

Mark Royle, of East Park Farm, was recognised for his work as lead volunteer of the 1st Charvil Scouts group, which meets in the Margaret Gimblett Pavilion.

He has helped provide opportunities to hundreds of children since joining about 10 years ago.

The council selected him for “tirelessly” supporting youngsters to learn new skills and provide them with trips and opportunities which weren’t offered before he joined the group in around 2015.

Mr Royle, 47, who lives with wife Veronika, son Jacob, who is 15, and twin daughters Aleka and Faye, 13, told the audience that he believes in giving children screen-free time.

He said: “I joined the scouts because I really love it and I think kids should have time without electronics. That is the reason why I do it.

“But this award isn’t just for me, there is a whole group of people in Charvil who help out every single week. It’s really for everybody.”

When Mr Royle first joined, there were two groups of about 20 beavers and scouts. Now there are now two beaver groups of more than 20 children, two cub groups and a scout group with 23 members.

Mr Royle, who was awarded a certificate and bottle of wine, said: “We are now hoping to make a second scout group, which will mean going from roughly 30 to 100 children.

“I managed to take them away on multiple camps because, before I joined and took over, members had nobody to take them on camps, so they were quite limited, or we had to share resources with other groups.

“We now have our own containment in the car park, which is ours. We have our own equipment now and we have funds to be able to help children who may not have the funds to pay for the subscriptions and other costs.”

He added: “You know you have succeeded when you see the look on a child’s face from learning to tie their shoelace, starting to ride a bike to climbing up a telegraph pole.”

The ceremony, held on Wednesday last week, was hosted by parish council chairman Stephen Lucas. The awards were handed out by Matt Walker, who chairs the amenities and finance committee.

Suzanne Newman, of Park Lane, was awarded the heroes’ runner-up award for her work running the community choir, The Project Singers, which she has directed for the past 35 years.

Mrs Newman, who moved to the village in 1969, teaches 60 pupils as well as running the girls’ and ladies’ choir which rehearses in the village hall.

This year, the choir celebrated its anniversary with a concert at Norden Farm Centre for the Arts in Maidenhead in March.

She said: “I feel very pleased. It’s lovely to be recognised for the work. I do a lot of work and a lot of it is voluntary.

“It has been quite a difficult few years because my mum has gone into a nursing home and music has been the one thing that has kept me going.

“Before me, she was always involved in community events and used to do the bookings for the village hall playgroup and clubs so I’ve followed in her footsteps.”

Mrs Newman wanted to become a choir director after being involved in singing groups as a child.

She said: “I have always been involved in choirs as a child and grew up singing. When I finished university, I decided that I was going to start my own singing groups and I just did it.

“Choirs are really important because you get to meet people and have social events. It’s great fun.”

Councillor Jane Hartley came up with the idea of holding community awards after a friend was awarded an outstanding citizen award in his town.

She said: “It really helped his wellbeing. I thought it would be a positive initiative to bring to Charvil. Hopefully this will boost the morale of those who give to the community who do not receive much acknowledgement.

“It is good to acknowledge someone’s contribution to our community and saying a thank-you from the council.

“All our nominees have contributed to building our community and the initiative seems to have been welcomed so we plan to award it periodically — not necessarily annually — and hopefully promote an under-18s category in the future.”

The awards ceremony was held during the Community Connect event, which gave
residents the opportunity to put forward their views on plans to redevelop the children’s park at East Park Farm and gives their views on village issues.

Guests were welcomed with a drinks and nibbles while representatives from community groups held stalls, including the organisers of the Charvil Village Fete, volunteers from My Cancer My Choices in Old Bath Road, Charvil Short Mat Bowls Club and GKR Karate based in the village hall.

The other nominees for the awards were as follows: The Caterpillar Club for toddlers, which operate in the village hall, the Charvil Fete committee and Andy Cowan, an amateur wildlife photographer who shares his photographs taken in and around the village.