Roll of honour for community champions

A teacher and a community stalwart were the first recipients in the new Wokingham Borough Mayor’s Roll of Honour awards for outstanding commitment and contributions to the area.

Sukhdev Kaur Bansal from Wokingham, and Janet Woodruff from Shinfield, were presented with this accolade by Borough Mayor Cllr John Kaiser during September’s full Council meeting.

Sukhdev, a qualified teacher, has been voluntarily running Panjabi language classes for adults and children for 35 years after realising the importance for the community to retain its own culture. She then turned her ambitions into reality.

Supported by Ramgarhia Sabha Reading, classes up to GCSE level are held Friday evenings during school term at Maiden Erlegh School, and every year more than 150 children achieve Panjabi GCSEs with outstanding grades. Sukhdev has also worked with schools, scouts and other local groups to teach more about Sikhism.

Other winner Janet Woodruff is a very active member in the Shinfield community. She distributes community newsletters from the Community Flat, and Loddon Reach from Shinfield Parish Council, to residents on the Shinfield Rise estate every six to eight weeks without fail.

Janet has also supported many Borough Council activities run on the estate by either encouraging people to attend or helping to run the events.

“Wokingham Borough is full of fantastic people who make our communities special,” said Cllr John Kaiser, Borough Mayor. “They volunteer tirelessly to make a real difference and this recognition is thoroughly deserved.”

Any Borough resident can be nominated. “We’re looking for people who make that extra effort for others,” said Cllr Kaiser. “Maybe by fostering, volunteering or being a carer; there are many thousands of such people out there and we need to hear about them. For children and young people, we would like to hear about those who have overcome adversity.”

To nominate somebody, simply email the mayor’s office (see below), and in no longer than 200 words set out why that person should be considered for the award. For the children’s awards, outstanding achievements in sport or arts are considered. You must be a Borough resident to make a nomination.

Each month, Cllr Kaiser and his Deputy Mayor Cllr Bill Soane will select worthy winners from the nominations with the awards then presented during full Council at Shute End.

(Sadly this magazine went to press before the next round of award winners were officially announced – Tony Lack, Steve Bowers, Wallis Ferne and John Prior. So many congratulations to them too!)

More information: mayoralsupport@wokingham.gov.uk