Burnham-On-Sea.com takes a closer look at the four Burnham and Highbridge residents who received awards for their service to the community during the towns’ annual Civic Service on Sunday (July 5th).
Annette Haggitt
It is unusual for the Town Council to grant a Civic Award to a person for outstanding performance within their employment. However, Annette Haggett’s contribution over two decades at the Burnham Tourist Information Centre has led to this exception. More recently, Annette has also been responsible for Cheddar Tourist Information Centre.
In 2007, the Burnham Tourist Information Centre received the Chairman’s Award for Excellence from the South West Tourism organisation, a matter of considerable national recognition, which was repeated in 2008 with the Cheddar Tourist Information Centre receiving a Gold Award. Annette herself was selected as ‘the face of British Tourism’ for British Tourism Week in March this year.
Along with her small band of personnel, Annette has given Burnham-On-Sea and its immediate vicinity a well-deserved tourism boost.
Mike Young
In addition to his former voluntary work with the Burnham-On-Sea Lions Club and currently the Rotary Club, Mike Young is recognised for his many years of work with carnival clubs and the Highbridge and Burnham Carnival Committee.
While being an active member of a local carnival club, Mike became a founder member of what was known as the ‘Highbridge and Burnham Guy Fawkes Gangs and Features Association’ in 1973 – a group set up for local carnival clubs to meet and discuss common problems and interests, as well as encouraging games and sports competitions between the clubs. When club numbers dwindled, Mike joined the Highbridge and Burnham Carnival Association and around 2002 Mike took over as Chief Marshall, later becoming its Chairman.
Before his recent retirement from the Carnival Committee, Mike’s knowledge was invaluable, working alongside the Town Council on the firework display over carnival weekend.
Hazel Braund
Hazel Braund is recognised for her many years of devoted service to the Burnham and Highbridge Choral Society. She was a founder member in 1972, and has since served the Society as secretary, treasurer and more recently as Chairman. Her enthusiasm and dedication has been a driving force in ensuring the success of the group over many years.
Her work on the committee of the League of Friends for Burnham Hospital is also recognised. Here, she serves as secretary of the Hospital Voluntary Services Group, whose members give up their time to serve teas to visitors and sell items to patients.
Additionally, Hazel has been responsible, through the Burnham Area Evening Flower Club, for the floral arrangements in the Out-Patient Department for many years. The Macmillan Society for Cancer Relief and the Children’s Society have also benefited from Hazel’s enthusiasm for voluntary service.
Richard Matthews
Richard Mathews is recognised for his work with the BAY Centre, and the Sedgemoor Association of Handicapped Persons. As Chairman of the Bay Centre in the 1990s, he supervised considerable refurbishment of the building, and displayed outstanding leadership as the purpose of the Centre expanded from a dedicated youth centre by offering a ‘home’ for other worthy organisations.
More recently, he has been the Chairman of the Sedgemoor Association of Handicapped Persons (now Sedgemoor Community Partnership) where he almost single-handedly kept the association operating through his determination.
This year he successfully headed up an appeal for funds to rebuild the collapsed part of the roof at Morland Hall in Highbridge, navigating the Partnership through difficult financial times. It now also offers a base to an expanding youth club, which meets three times a week. The importance of its role in the heart of Highbridge is now being recognised and this could well lead to a specially-designed centre being constructed.
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Photos from the 2009 Civic Awards Ceremony in our gallery
