Surrey Life Community Heroes

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Celebrating the inspiring people who are really making a big difference in our town and village communities, here we bring you the first ever Surrey Life Community Heroes list: the charity volunteers, lifesavers and other proactive people – all recommended via surrey.greatbritishlife.co.uk – who you feel make an impression on the quality of life in Surrey.

It’s by no means a definitive list but a tribute to a few of our unsung heroes, so please feel free to get in touch with your own nominations for next time. If you’d like to nominate someone, please e-mail their name, hometown, age and the reason for your recommendation to feedback@surreylife.co.uk with SLCH in the subject line.

Compiled by Matthew Williams

Originally published in Surrey Life magazine April 2012

Surrey Life Community Heroes 2012

With grateful thanks to our sponsor, CHK Mountford Lettings Agent

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Peter Almond, Hinchley Wood

One man and his dog, Peter Almond, 65, and seven-year-old Henry, raised around £10,000 for Hounds for Heroes by walking 1,250 miles across the country this autumn. Hounds for Heroes is a new charity that provides assistance dogs for forces and emergency service personnel. The former defence correspondent for the Daily Telegraph and the Washington Times finished his walk from Land’s End to John O’Groats after four stints taking a total of 131 days.

George Kerr, Chertsey

For the past 50 years, George Kerr has been an inspirational leader for the Scouting movement. He started out as a cub leader with the 1st / 4th Addlestone Scout Group and, now in his late 60s, he still maintains links with his group and also coordinates events for young people across Runnymede. Once every three years, he is part of a team that organises a fun day for over 2,500 eight to 11-year-olds from across Surrey at Cranleigh Showground.

Peggy Bedwell, Ewell

Active in local history and archaeology since the 1960s, Peggy Bedwell has long been a member and officer of the local history society and helped to save the museum when it was to be closed. At just over 90, she is still hard at work in the local history centre, which she helped to found, and has hosted and worked with the local Roman pottery cataloguing group for the last six years. She is also a member of the local history committee for Surrey Archaeological Society, and worked hard to save Old St Mary’s Church Tower, raising money to restore it, and remains a trustee.

Sarah Benton, Weybridge

While she may have been blind for eight-and-a-half years due to insulin dependant diabetes, Sarah Benton hasn’t let that get in the way of her charity fund-raising efforts. Back in September, the 33-year-old dived with a large number of sharks at an aquarium in Ellesmere Port, raising more than £22,000 for the Surrey Association for Visual Impairment (SAVI) through her brave challenge.

Manuela Gosling-Gleissberg, Kingswood

For the last ten years, Manuela Gosling-Gleissberg, 45, has volunteered at the School for Profound Education in Tadworth, The Children’s Trust’s school for learners with profound and multiple learning difficulties and complex health needs. Manuela is also a governor of the school and a member of a number of working parties and groups. Importantly for the school, she also developed links with Chinthurst boys’ school. Students from there now come in for work experience, and have invited learners from the School for Profound Education to attend drama and art sessions, which they have specially designed for them back at their own school.

John Buckoke, Tadworth

A volunteer at The Children’s Trust, Tadworth, for over 14 years in a variety of different guises (and costumes!), John Buckoke, 76, manages the recruitment and placement of work experience students. He does this for both the School for Profound Education, for students with multiple learning difficulties, and the charity’s shops. He reached the milestone of 1,000 work experience students last year. Anyone who has attended Heritage Open Days may well have met John – or Lord Russell as he would be better known! With his wife Doreen, John explains the fascinating history of the Trust’s mansion building, in full period dress.

Ann Meadows, Brockham

Involved with the Dorking branch of the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA) for the last 12 years, Ann Meadows, 69, helps to organise their annual Big Brew-Up, a tea, coffee and cake morning where they sell Christmas cards, with the help of Brockham Flower Club. The SSAFA is a national welfare charity that helps current and former servicemen, women and their families. Another cause that has benefitted from Ann’s efforts is the Sidney Michael Poland Trust, a Brockham-based charity that helps people in need and also funds Poland House, a small sheltered housing scheme in the village.

Andy Honey, Westcott

This Westcott gardener had his moment in the headlines when he captured the hearts of the nation after the airing of Channel 4’s Obsessive Compulsive Hoarder, the story of another local resident who had filled a four-bedroom bungalow and garages from floor to ceiling with items he had kept over the years. Andy Honey, 39, showed great patience and persistence to help Richard Wallace, whose hoarding habits had taken over his life.

Sheila Boniface, Farnborough

A dedicated fund-raiser for many years after being treated at St Luke’s Cancer Centre nearly 14 years ago, Sheila Boniface, 48, has been an inspiration, having climbed Kilimanjaro and Snowdon to help raise funds for the Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford and other charities that supported her during her treatment. More recently, she and her daughter have worked tremendously hard in developing an event called Dusk to Dawn, a night walk from Farnborough to the Royal Surrey County Hospital, which was a huge success last year and raised over £5,000. She plans to do it again this year and hopes to double that sum.

Craig Chitty, Effingham

The Co-operative Group honoured one of Surrey’s community stars at the inaugural South East Community Awards last November. Craig Chitty, 29, from Effingham, was crowned Community Hero for his work founding the St John Ambulance Effingham and District Community First Responders, ensuring that local residents have access to emergency medical assistance despite living many miles from the nearest hospital’s accident and emergency unit.

Gerald Cole, Addlestone

A ‘feisty’ 60-plus civil engineering consultant, Gerald Cole has been dedicated to raising money for charity for a number of years. In 2009, he took part in the London to Brighton cycle ride in aid of the British Heart Foundation and the London to Paris ride in aid of Children with Cancer. Feeling spurred on by his success, he signed up for a Paris to Geneva charity cycle ride, which he again completed. Gerald is not a cycling fanatic but, in 2011, again signed up for the London to Paris ride. He has raised many thousands of pounds for these and other charities along the way.

Christopher Firth, Brockham

Having started with the Surrey Association for Visual Impairment (SAVI) last March, Christopher Firth, 60, came to the rescue just a couple of months later when the charity’s annual outing was to be cancelled due to the lack of a driver. Volunteering his services, he took the short driving test and then led the tour from Bletchingley. In January, he took over the responsibility of treasurer for the charity from Sandra Cotton.

Alec Garnham, Great Bookham

A loyal and dedicated volunteer, Alec Garnham has helped raise £23,000 for Surrey Air Ambulance since he joined the life-saving charity. The 77-year-old retired project manager has raised vital funds by selling merchandise at countless events; placing and emptying collection boxes; and representing the charity at cheque presentations. He got involved with the charity back in 2008, after his son-in-law was airlifted to hospital after a road traffic collision, and hasn’t looked back since.

Shenal Patel, Kingston upon Thames

This 25-year-old from Coombe Wood Golf Club was named Young Golf Volunteer of the Year at the England Golf Partnership’s annual Volunteer Awards. In two years, Shenal Patel has journeyed from golf novice to competent player – and a volunteer contributing hundreds of hours to supporting other newcomers to the game. When her degree course required volunteer work, she returned to World of Golf, where she learned from Jon Woodroffe, a PGA fellow professional, before taking her PGA Level 1 coaching qualification to help the PGA professionals with their beginner group classes.

Princess Alice Hospice Champions

Recently appointed, the Princess Alice Hospice Champions are a group who act as representatives for all the charity’s 1,400 volunteers and were nominated by their peers and staff. Some have given several decades of service to the Hospice; others have been involved for only a short period. The Champions are from all aspects of the Hospice from care services – such as the day hospice or bereavement support – to events support, fund-raising and retail. The champions for 2012 are Karen Bone and Mark Holland, West Molesey; Andrew Coni, Fetcham; Vivianne Pallister, New Malden; Chelsea Parsons, Bournemouth formally Staines; Susan Taylor, Whiteley; Linda Park, Thames Ditton; Jean Deane, Cobham; and Bridget Chawner, Epsom.

Alan Woodiwiss, Cheam

The founder of Sutton High FC, Alan Woodiwiss has been recognised for nearly 60 years of dedication with an MBE for his services to amateur football. In 1954, Alan left Sutton High School for Boys and decided to get all his school friends together to start a football team. The club was known as Sutton High School Old Boys FC – however, after the school closed down, it became known as Sutton High FC. Despite a recent heart bypass, the 78-year-old refuses to let health problems get in the way of his passion for football and he remains at the forefront of Sutton High FC. Alan is still the secretary and now among the longest serving secretaries in the UK.

Lee Godfrey, Oatlands

Even though neither of his local libraries, Walton or Weybridge, are under threat and he has only lived in the area for a couple of years, Lee Godfrey, 43, has been working tirelessly with the Surrey Libraries Action Movement (SLAM). The group, which launched legal action in January against Surrey County Council over their plans to replace staff with volunteers at ten libraries across Surrey, from Bagshot to Warlingham, has even gained the support of celeb brain Stephen Fry, who urged his four million followers to take a look at the SLAM campaign.

Michael More-Molyneux, Guildford

Loseley Park, near Guildford, has long been established as a haven of charitable support, and owner Michael More-Molyneux, 60, has been at the heart of that. His family have owned Loseley House since it was built in 1562 for Queen Elizabeth I – the monarch stayed there four times. He and wife, Sarah, donated the two-acre site that Shooting Star Chase’s Guildford hospice is based on and the hospice is named after their third child, Christopher, who tragically lost his life in a quad biking accident. Over the years, Michael and Sarah have run many marathons to raise money for the charities they support.

Leatherhead Community Garden, Leatherhead

Originally launched in September 2009 on a scout hut site in Woodbridge Grove, Leatherhead Community Garden was forced to close after two lots of sewage flooding on the site. Not to be deterred, however, the members took full advantage of the local West Hill School’s plans to extend their horticulture provision for students. The first meeting at the new site was in February 2011 and they haven’t looked back since. The group continues to promote and encourage gardening in the area using organic and environmentally sustainable methods.

James Price from Kingswood, Ben Cuttle from Pyrford and Rob Bruce from Cobham

These three friends from across Surrey took part in a gruelling desert marathon challenge in 2011, raising over £26,000 for The Children’s Trust, Tadworth, from their efforts. James Price, Ben Cuttle and Rob Bruce took part in the toughest foot race on earth – the Marathon Des Sables. The hardy trio, all in their 30s, not only successfully completed the ultimate test of endurance, but finished as the fastest British team – running a total of 151 miles in just six days in the extreme temperatures and terrain of the mighty Sahara Desert.    

Limpsfield Memorial Store, Limpsfield

In 1998, the Memorial Stores and Post Office, which had been part of Limpsfield Village for many years, was in danger of closing. Local people wanted to continue to have a local shop and Post Office and decided to save it – over £40,000 was raised through gifts and loans to buy and re-launch the business for the benefit of the local community. Up to 50 village volunteers help run the business, each signing up for taking a two-hour slot every week.

Sally Jones, Cranleigh

As an activities volunteer, Sally Jones’ interest in the residents at Cedar Court Nursing Home in Cranleigh always comes first and her enthusiasm for helping others is said to be endless. The 67-year-old was named volunteer of the year at the Surrey Care Awards in November, which were held at Epsom Downs racecourse, with her Glee club, life histories and brain training groups warmly praised.

Gwendolyn Allsopp, Reigate

A volunteer for the St Catherine’s Hospice shop in Reigate, which relies on such support, for 14 years; an active volunteer for the Reigate Priory Museum Society, who help run the museum; a helper at East Surrey Hospital café… it’s no surprise that Gwendolyn Allsopp, 83, won an individual award at the Reigate and Banstead Mayor’s Volunteer Awards last year.

Kate Sherman, Headley

A physiotherapist at Headley Court, Kate Sherman was one of this year’s winners of an award previously picked up by Tina Turner, Sara Payne and other famous women. Kate Sherman was one of six Barclays Women of the Year winners for 2011, and she was presented with her award at the rehabilitation centre for injured soldiers, based near Epsom. Lancashire-born Kate, 35, moved to Headley Court in December 2002 and she has been helping to develop the complex trauma service for six years. Her specialist areas include traumatic amputee rehabilitation, spinal cord injuries, aquatic therapy and using sport as part of rehabilitation.

Jill Popham, Epsom

Involved in Girlguiding UK, the largest voluntary organisation for girls and young women in the country, for many years, Jill Popham, 55, makes a huge difference to hundreds of local girls’ lives. Not only does she run one Brownie and two Rainbow units, she is also the Epsom Division Commissioner. An inspiration to all those around her, Jill’s calm but enthusiastic attitude encourages others to be the best they can be and to push themselves further in all aspects of life. She selflessly gives an enormous amount of time to Girlguiding UK locally and is a caring and popular member of the team. She sees the good in everyone and gives people her unfailing support and the belief that they can move mountains.

Sue Thomas, Farnham

Recently presented with the prestigious Badge of Honour for Distinguished Service in recognition of her exceptional service to the Red Cross, Sue Thomas enthusiastically sacrifices her own time as a volunteer to maintain and expand the charity’s services to the local community. The award is the highest that can be awarded in the Red Cross. The 59-year-old also spent more than ten years as the Surrey ‘home from hospital’ service coordinator, from its inception until her retirement.

Paul Studholme, Cobham

Having spent the last six years restoring the Victorian kitchen garden that has become The Medicine Garden, Paul Studholme has helped transform a derelict site into a wonderful community space, which also provides small business units to around 15 different businesses (not easy to find in Cobham at a reasonable price!). He and a small band of volunteers have been running community events that have grown hugely since the site opened to the public 18 months ago. It has become an informal meeting place for several local community groups, including the local WI. The 38-year-old recently won the South East Enterprise category in the Countryside Alliance Awards for his work regenerating the site.

Jo Pritchard and Tricia McGregor, West Byfleet and Epsom

Managing directors of Central Surrey Health, Jo Pritchard, 51, and Tricia McGregor, 49, received MBEs for services to social enterprise from Princess Anne at Windsor Castle recently. The pair were recognised in last June’s Queen’s birthday honours list for setting up the employee-owned, not-for-profit social enterprise. The organisation was formed in 2006 after more than 750 nurses and therapists left the NHS to set up the health service.

Penny Lympany, Weybridge

While holding down a full-time job, Penny Lympany still finds most nights of the week to run or organise events for eight to 11-year-olds and is responsible for one of Runnymede Scouts’ most successful groups, the 1st / 4th Addlestone Scout Group, with over 142 young people. She also ensures that adults receive suitable training to keep the standards of scouting in Runnymede high. In her early 40s, Penny recently received a long service award, having been involved in the group for 25 years.

Marjorie Williams, Guildford

Back in 1982, Surrey historian Matthew Alexander’s History of Guildford classes produced the first Guildford Town Guides, and since then thousands of people have been taken on guided walks around the town. The group was founded by Marjorie Williams, 82, who is still involved today. She was awarded an MBE in 2008 for services to heritage and the community of Guildford. Though Marjorie officially retired in 2006, the walks continue for free from Tunsgate Arch in the High Street and are still led by knowledgeable volunteers. She is also a founder member of the Friends of Guildford Museum.

Karoll Frost, Old Woking

Last year, volunteer fund-raiser Karoll Frost from Old Woking was honoured by receiving the Eric Theobald award, which was set up in 2006 in memory of a community police officer and is awarded to someone who has gone above the call of duty. Karoll received the award in recognition of selling Woking & Sam Beare Hospices’ raffle tickets and also for volunteering in their shops. Karoll, who is in her 40s, has been volunteering for the Hospice for the last 15 years, raising £200,000 along the way.

Bianca Effemey, Kingston

In 2004, Bianca Effemey, 51, was working in the Paediatric Department at Kingston Hospital and co-founded the charity Momentum with the aim of helping children (up to the age of 17) undergoing treatment for cancer in Surrey and South West London. Such has been the impression the charity has made that among their patrons they include author Dame Jacqueline Wilson, the actor Philip Glenister and ex-Australian Rugby Captain, Michael Lynagh.

Dave Wright, Reigate

Surrey Air Ambulance critical care paramedic Dave Wright, 48, helped save the life of a teenager involved in a road traffic collision in Ripley. Joe Wilson, 15, sustained a serious head injury and a fractured collarbone in the collision on the final day of his GCSE exams last June. Paramedics from the South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb) and a passing GP were first at the scene and began treating Joe before the helicopter crew arrived. David Wright and his colleague Dr John O’Neill then stabilised Joe at the roadside and gave him an emergency anaesthetic – a skill usually performed in hospital.

Sue Sheward, Effingham

Supporters of Orangutan Appeal UK recently joined the charity’s founder Sue Sheward, 66, at a reception in Effingham to mark its 10th anniversary. It was in fact a double celebration as BBC World’s Chris Rogers, a patron of the charity since 2004, announced that Sue’s work in protecting the endangered species across Asia had earned her recognition from the Queen with an MBE in the New Year’s Honours list. Sue set up Orangutan Appeal UK in 2000 after volunteering at an orang-utan centre during a holiday in Borneo.

Hamish Donaldson, Haslemere

Founder chairman of Surrey Churches Preservation, which has raised over £250,000 for church preservation since its foundation, Hamish Donaldson is also the founder chairman and treasurer of the Haslemere Festival. In his early 70s, he has run four festivals in the town, each one larger than the last. As a governor of the Royal School, Haslemere, for over 15 years, he has steered the school through busy times following a merger in 1995. As if that wasn’t enough, he has also been chairman and president of the Haslemere Players and directed 11 productions, winning four awards for excellence from the National Operatic & Dramatic Association. He was invited to become Lay Canon of Guildford Cathedral in 2011.

John and Gina Redpath, Guildford

A pair of heritage heroes, John and Gina Redpath were instrumental in helping the local community in raising £1.6 million over a period of six years towards the restoration and opening to the public of the Guildford Union Workhouse as a heritage and community centre in 2008. These days, the pair who are both in their 50s are still heavily involved, organising the Guildford Pancake Race, quiz nights and delicious fish and chip suppers to create a social and a supportive spirit in the Guildford community.

Clive Smee, East Horsley

Most notably involved in the campaign to save Horsley Library after Surrey County Council announced that several would be turned into volunteer-run community sites, Clive Smee was handed a newly-created volunteer award by his parish council in January. The 69-year-old was rewarded for years of work for the community and was the inaugural winner of a prize that will now be presented annually as the parish council seeks to recognise the contribution of local volunteers. He has been chairman of the Friends of Horsley Library group for over ten years.

Linda Sourris, Reigate

Founded in Reigate four years ago by Linda Sourris, Loveworks.org is a positive, proactive charity carrying out projects for local people in need. They inspire volunteers to put something back into their community with simple and effective projects such as their Christmas Bag Scheme, which encourages shoppers to buy goodies that they then bag up and distribute to local families. Linda, 51, is at the heart of the charity’s amazing work and, on Sunday June 3, is helping to host Jubilation, a free community party in Reigate’s Priory Park.

Lorraine Thompson, Croydon

Police community support officer Lorraine Thompson has devoted her time to helping homeless people get back on their feet in Croydon since she joined the force two years ago. With the help of two like-minded partners, she set up the Octopus community enterprise at the end of last year in a bid to train out-of-work people and help recovering alcoholics and drug addicts to stay clean and sober. The 51-year-old continues to help organise a range of projects including regular litter picks, gardening and cooking schemes. As well as being the face of the police, the beloved PCSO has been immortalised in a mural of the town’s favourite faces in the Whitgift Centre.

Lucinda Colucci, Guildford

Lucinda Colucci has been a huge support to the Royal Surrey County Hospital over the last year. The 50-year-old was inspired to help raise funds for a new piece of equipment to provide ‘stereotactic radiotherapy’, a precise way of treating secondary brain tumours, after a very good friend of hers received this treatment in London and is now in remission. Between balancing several jobs, children and the occasional lodger, she has managed to raise well over £5,000 in less than a year for the appeal by visiting endless school fetes, car boots and gaining sponsorship for trekking and kayaking across Brazil.

• If you’d like to nominate someone, please e-mail their name, hometown, age and the reason for your recommendation to feedback@surreylife.co.uk with SLCH in the subject line.

Originally published in Surrey Life magazine April 2011

Surrey Life Community Heroes 2011

With grateful thanks to our sponsor, One Kew Road in Richmond

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Maria Angel, Normandy

The driving force behind the N-Factor youth club and the Normandy Day Centre Internet Café in her village, over the last three years Maria Angel, 45, has raised over £18,500. As well
as sourcing suitably equipped premises and recruiting volunteers, her work at the former with rural-based youngsters has helped to relieve boredom-related youth crime. Meanwhile, the internet café has provided a social meeting place for older residents who could otherwise suffer from feelings of isolation. She was recently named as the national ‘Community Mum of the Year’ by Tesco magazine.

Ian Bird, Woking

Stroke survivor Ian Bird, 54, was only 23 when he had a stroke, believed to be the result of a car accident, which left him in a coma. As a result, Ian has aphasia, meaning that although his intelligence has not been affected his ability to communicate using language has been impaired. Despite his disability, he is constantly on the search for new ways to raise money for The Stroke Association and awareness for the Full Circle stroke club in Camberley, and has recently completed two sponsored trike rides.

David Brown, Weybridge

Having recently passed the 100,000-mile mark, keen cyclist David Brown, 68, has raised over £2,000 for the Sam Beare Hospice, Weybridge, and leukaemia research. In 1996, he was himself diagnosed with hairy cell leukaemia, a chronic form of the disease, and one year later, after treatment, he decided to start recording every mile he cycled around the roads of Surrey as part of his recovery programme. He hopes added sponsorship will take his total to £5,000.

CHASE cyclists, Guildford

Instead of taking a well earned rest after their GCSEs, four 16-year-old boys from Guildford decided to cycle the full length of Britain and raise money for CHASE children’s charity. Last year, James Boyle, Nick Graham, Charles Butler and Sam Lucas, all pupils at George Abbot School, Guildford, cycled from Land’s End to John O’Groats covering around 1,000 miles in 17 days. They were inspired by their schoolmates, Tom Mansfield and Mitch Smith, who both sadly lost their lives to leukaemia and lymphoma. So far they have raised over £4,000. 

Charlie Cooper, Walton-on-Thames

The irrepressible Charlie Cooper runs the Walton-on-Thames detachment of the Surrey Army Cadets, often getting his charges involved in community projects. Last year, Surrey Army Cadets scooped the Revision Trophy for the most money raised for the Army Benevolent Fund. Of the £13,000 raised by the 26 Surrey Army Cadets detachments, Walton raised a whopping £12,000 of that. The unit also came second in the Connaught Cup, for raising £8,195 for this year’s Poppy Appeal, an award they have previously won three years in a row.

Darren Cooper, Woking

After Surrey Air Ambulance saved his life following a car accident four years ago, Darren Cooper joined the charity as a volunteer. Since then, he has raised more than £20,000 from his annual North Downs Walk and by running the Brighton Marathon. A true champion of the cause, he also helps out with store collections during Air Ambulance Week in September. His mother Diane, brother Philip, and a horse rider who was also rescued by the Surrey Air Ambulance following a fall, all joined him on the last walk in October.

Simon Cowell, Leatherhead

Wildlife champion Simon Cowell co-founded Leatherhead’s Wildlife Aid over 30 years ago and received an MBE in 2005 for his services to wildlife. As well as hosting his own TV series, Wildlife SOS, the chances are that if you’ve found an injured, orphaned or sick wild animal in Surrey you’ll have probably been in touch with the man and his team of vets. Every year, they hold an open day that helps to raise funds towards the charity’s operations.

Sheila Dobson, Compton

If you head down to Watts Gallery in Compton, you’ll not only find a famous gallery moving closer to reopening, but you’ll also find Sheila Dobson, who has diligently managed the stewards since 2005. This has involved her recruiting volunteers, inducting new recruits and supporting stewards through difficult times, while always retaining their loyalty and support. With her husband John, Sheila can often be found filling in a gap either in the gallery or information point, usually on a Bank Holiday afternoon or a Sunday. Thanks to Sheila, there are now over 170 volunteers and Watts director Perdita Hunt says that the gallery could not have been saved without her.

Dunsfold Community Shop Association, Dunsfold

Following an urgent plea by owners and long-serving managers Sue and Tony Bowden to save Dunsfold Village Stores and Post Office, parish council chairman Alan Ground went into action and the Dunsfold Community Shop Association was born last July. More than 150 people packed into a public meeting to support the scheme last November. They responded so enthusiastically that when the community buyout shares went on sale, the required sum of £200,000 was raised in just over one month!

Terry Eckersley, Woking

Last year, Woking YMCA chief executive Terry Eckersley, along with his wife and the centre’s staff, slept out for one night in minus five temperatures to raise awareness and finance for homeless young people. They followed it up this year by persuading their friends it was a good idea, too, and in January slept rough with 30 others in an almost tropical minus four! The event took place on the Wheatsheaf field in Horsell, Woking, and has so far raised over £2,000, with ambitions of reaching the £5,000 mark.

Seni Glaister, Godalming

Despite a busy career as chief executive of Godalming’s The Book People, Seni Glaister still found time for some amazing charity work in 2010. Not content with climbing Kilimanjaro in February, she then turned her attention to organising an 11-mile walk through the Surrey countryside in memory of publisher Peter Bowron, whose daughter is supported by CHASE. The first Peter Bowron Catteshall Stroll took place in September and nearly 200 people took part. The climb and walk have raised over £60,000 for the Guildford-based children’s charity and there will be another Catteshall Stroll in September. Seni will also be climbing Aconcagua in the Andes in 2012.

Margaret Godwin, Molesey

Almost 900 walkers registered for Princess Alice Hospice’s annual Towpath Trundle last May, as the event founded by Margaret Godwin came of age after 18 years. A dedicated and successful fund-raiser for almost two decades, she, along with the Thames Ditton and Walton and Weybridge Friends of Princess Alice Hospice committees, has helped to generate over £180,000 from the event. The next four or eight-mile sponsored trundle is taking place on Sunday May 15 and Margaret will officially start the race.

Julia Grant, Guildford

Chairman of Cool2Care, a social enterprise registered in Shamley Green that supports families with disabled children and young people, Julia Grant was also recently appointed a director at the national philanthropist organisation, the Impetus Trust. A former chief executive of the National Gardens Scheme NGS), a charitable trust based at Hatchlands Park in East Clandon, which has a £3.5 million turnover thanks to its annual garden openings, her new line of work will continue to support a portfolio of charities around the county.

Frank Guy, Burgh Heath

A dedicated volunteer at The Children’s Trust in Tadworth for over 14 years, 90-year-old Frank Guy has worked on a weekly basis undertaking a variety of administrative tasks during his time in the fund-raising department, including hand-writing over 60,000 receipts for the charity’s collection boxes! In 2006, he received a special award from the Trust for his voluntary work. He is unfailingly helpful and friendly, responds cheerfully to any task asked of him and is said to be an inspiration to everyone he meets.

Hambledon Village Shop, Hambledon

In 2009, Hambledon enjoyed a visit from Princess Alexandra after winning the Surrey Village of the Year competition and her first stop was the shop and post office. Rescued by Philip Underwood, the parish councillor and retired village vet, and other active members of the Hambledon community in the Nineties, the store is now run by more than 50 volunteers with Philip still at the helm. With many lessons learned over 20 years, the shop operates successfully by delivering more than just products and a post office – it is an informal centre of the community.

Amy Hughes, Godalming

Surrey Air Ambulance’s Dr Amy Hughes helped save the life of a three-year-old girl critically injured after falling through a window. Within 13 minutes of the 999 call, the crew had taken off and landed in a field before sprinting the remaining 500 metres. Molly had cut a blood vessel and needed an intra-osseous needle, pressure dressing and oxygen before being airlifted to a major trauma centre but has since made a full recovery.

Sheila Hurton, Claygate

A former Princess Alice Hospice trustee, Sheila Hurton also founded Voice for Hospices, an international fund-raising event that sees choirs all over the world holding concerts at the same time to raise awareness of hospice care. The Surrey-based events with which she has been involved have raised tens of thousands of pounds for the Princess Alice Hospice and globally the figures are likely to run into the millions. Sheila also arranges singers and musicians to entertain patients at the hospice on a regular basis and plays piano at the concerts and at other hospice fund-raisers.

Robin Hutchinson, Surbiton

Showing that anything is possible when you really put your mind to it, Robin Hutchinson is the man behind the State of Seething, a creative force in Surbiton that has raised over £35,000 for charity in just over 15 months through various madcap projects. These have included Surbiton Ski Sunday (where people skied down St Mark’s Hill on blocks of ice); building giant versions of children’s games such as Mousetrap; the Homage de Fromage Cheese Club; and The Seething Talcum Colliery Brass Band. In 2010, he introduced the Legend of Lefi Ganderson to the area – a fictional figurehead to focus the area’s community spirit. He is also the originator and founding trustee of the Rose Theatre in Kingston and chair of the International Youth Arts Festival that encourages young people to realise their potential through the arts.

Chris Jefferies, Woking

An exemplary volunteer for the British Red Cross, Chris Jefferies joined as a youth volunteer at the Guildford centre in 2007, moving to Woking in 2008. During 2010, he volunteered for no less than six services spanning the length and breadth of Surrey, and even travelled to Kenya as a youth delegate. At 18, Chris was the youngest volunteer in Surrey to achieve the highest award of Ambulance Attendant, which means that he is able to work in the ambulances treating casualties at events and in support of the local ambulance service. Chris was a joint winner of the youth award at the Surrey Inspiration Awards.

Su Johnston, East Horsley

It was Su Johnston who first had the idea to find a piece of land within Horsley and turn it into a community vegetable and fruit growing project. Over 80 villagers from both East and West Horsley have now worked the land for what is now known as Grace and Flavour. Ten per cent of the vegetables are gifted to local people and the project is clearly showing that it won’t be too long before it will be generating enough to be self-supporting. Su has continued to make an astounding contribution in terms of ideas, inspiration and sheer hard work and was recently rewarded with the inspiration award at the Surrey Inspiration Awards.

Amanda Jones, Camberley

When her youngest child, Becs, died of breast cancer at 33, only 11 months after being diagnosed, Amanda Jones, 68, was inspired by her heartbreak to become a £1,000 Challenger for Breakthrough Breast Cancer. Since that moment, she has personally raised over £150,000. Last year, she was the face of Piccadilly Circus and an ambassador for Samsung’s More than Talk Campaign during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. She has also been interviewed about Breakthrough’s work on local radio stations and during a programme on bereavement on Woman’s Hour.

Julia Lever, Thames Ditton

Twenty years ago, Julia Lever founded the CHASE children’s hospice, prompted by an article in a national newspaper describing the plight of a family with a life-limited child. Many regular Surrey Life readers will already be well aware of the charity through our work with them and annual carol concert partnership. In January, she was rewarded with an MBE for her efforts in the New Year Honours List. CHASE is based at Christopher’s Hospice in Artington, near Guildford, and is set to merge with the Hampton-based Shooting Star Hospice, which serves north Surrey and parts of Greater London.

The Lightbox Volunteers, Woking

The Lightbox gallery and museum would not be able to function without the support of its 150 volunteers, who were nominated as a whole. On a daily basis, they get involved with a range of tasks from welcoming visitors to looking after the actual works of art. The concept of The Lightbox was developed by a group of local art and heritage volunteers in 1993 and it was their vision and determination that has given the Surrey community such a unique venue.

Elaine Lush, Mid Holmwood

First volunteering 35 years ago, Elaine Lush is now the driving force, secretary and ‘fund-raiser in chief’ of Leatherhead Swans, one of the biggest multi-agency organisations for disabled people in the south east. When Elaine took over as secretary over 20 years ago, she expanded the club’s horizons with day trips, activity holidays and competitive sporting events with similar clubs in Surrey. Elaine also works for The Children’s Trust, is a Poppy Appeal organiser and Treasurer of the Dorking Royal British Legion. She also founded and runs the Residents Association for Norfolk Lane, the 28-home community where she lives. Elaine recently won the lifetime achievement award at the Surrey Inspiration awards.

Chris Major, Banstead

A volunteer for The Children’s Trust in Tadworth since 1997, Chris Major, 62, plays a key role at the Trust, devoting many hours every week to the transport needs of the children – be it a hospital appointment or a day’s outing. Regardless of the time of day, or length of journey, Chris is always on hand to help wherever and whenever he can. Over the last six years, Chris has also been an active board member at the Trust and ambassador.

Dennis Malone, Purley

Dedicated Dennis Malone is a much-valued member of The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity Team. He has helped in the office almost daily since his wife passed away from cancer 11 years ago. Nothing is too much effort for the 83-year-old who can always be counted on to step in at a moment’s notice. He works on their fund-raising stall, located in the hospital reception, counts money, picks up collection boxes from pubs, shops and companies, and helps out at fairs and shopping centre collections. Everyone at The Royal Marsden in Sutton knows Dennis and if he ever has a rare day off staff are inundated with people asking where he is.

Margaret Manly, Ashtead

A volunteer, trustee, supporter, founder member and general ‘star’ for CHASE since the charity began, Margaret Manly has dedicated hours of time to raise funds for the Guildford-based hospice. She also helps out in other ways, too, whether it’s showing people around, giving talks about their work or encouraging new fund-raising ideas as the charity develops.

Debbie Middleton, Claygate

Last year, Debbie Middleton arranged and participated in the successful world record attempt to hold the longest ever netball match, playing for three days straight at the Guildford Spectrum. Held in aid of the Royal Marsden Hospital, in celebration of Debbie’s victory over cancer, the Claygate and New Malden netball clubs played for 60 hours and scored nearly 5,000 goals between them. Their efforts have so far raised £60,000, almost twice the original target.

Hilary Naylor, Bramley

Tirelessly donating all her free time to help GRACE, a local charity that supports Surrey women with gynaecological cancers by funding research and vital surgical equipment, Hilary Naylor, 56, moved to Bramley just three years ago but has thrown herself into supporting her local community. From stocktaking, wrapping gifts, running stalls and making chutneys and jams to sell, she does anything she can to help raise much-needed funds. Her efforts this year are helping to fund groundbreaking research into the cause, progression and treatment of ovarian cancer.

Neil Painter, Haslemere

Bleeding from a head injury, a fractured skull, a traumatic brain injury, a fractured sternum, collapsed lungs and with multiple rib fractures: these were the catalogue of injuries Rob Horne had sustained and the land crews were writing out a death certificate when the Surrey Air Ambulance arrived. Neil Painter and Dr Zane Perkins had to resuscitate Rob between 12 and 15 times and, after six days on life support, six weeks in a coma and six months of rehabilitation, he has now recovered. Neil, from Haslemere, has flown on the Dunsfold-based helicopter since it was launched in 2007.

Jacqui Reid, Shepperton

Having supported young people at the local charity Sunbury and Walton Sea Cadets for over 25 years in a variety of roles, including mentoring young people, running the snack bar, cooking at fund-raising events and acting as secretary to the management team, 60-year-old Jacqui Reid even managed to fit in the London Marathon last year to raise money for her favourite charities. Additionally, she has raised funds for the Shooting Star Hospice by growing plants on an allotment and then selling them for the benefit of the hospice.

Tim Rowsell, Compton

Chairman of Surrey Search and Rescue, a team of highly trained volunteers who search for lost and missing vulnerable people alongside Surrey Police, Tim Rowsell set up the team early last year after noticing that all surrounding counties had specialist search teams but Surrey did not. Involved in every aspect of the team from recruitment and training, right the way through to operational searches and fund-raising, Tim has also been a special constable for the last three years.

John Sandy, Godalming

Governor of Rodborough College of Technology in Milford and a former Mayor of Waverley, John Sandy was awarded an MBE for his community work. A long-serving president of the League of Friends of Milford Hospital, he was also chairman of the Clockhouse day centre for eight years. His other roles have included being a past chairman of Go Godalming, a former trustee of Witley Charitable Trust, a founder president of Godalming Woolsack Rotary Club and a founder member and former chairman of Surrey Job Match, a charity that finds work for ex-prisoners.

The Shop at Strood Green

Recently picking up the 2010 Rural Retail Award for Best Village Shop in the South East, managers Jane Holmes and Christine Nolan will be going to the grand final at the House of Lords, when the national winner is announced. The project has had a roller-coaster history, starting in 2005 when the then shop-owners closed the sub-post office. Despite raising over £60,000, the community’s offer to purchase it was turned down. Eventually, the creases were ironed out, and the new shop opened in March 2009.

Street Angels, various towns across the county

Street Angels are volunteers who believe that people deserve care and love in their time of need. Those needs could be as a result of homelessness, intoxication, drug abuse, assault or any other issue that has caused personal distress or the potential for physical harm. The Staines branch were awarded the chief constable’s local heroes award at the Surrey Inspiration Awards and Guildford’s version recently won £1,000 through the Community Empowerment Awards.

Andrea Thomas, Stoughton

Mum to Isabel, Lauren, Eloise and Brandon, who was diagnosed with autism at four, Andrea Thomas has campaigned tirelessly to ensure play opportunities are open to all disabled children locally since then. Aside from being mother to four children, she finds time to volunteer at Disability Challengers in Guildford and recently took up running – raising £1,000 by taking part in ‘Kelly’s miles for smiles’ in October and currently training for 2011’s London Marathon.

Jacqueline Ward-Reel, Horley

For over 26 years, Jacqueline Ward-Reel, founder, chairman and co-ordinator of Horley’s Animal Protection Trust, an animal rescue charity formed in 1984 to help unwanted, abandoned and ill-treated animals, has been on hand to help Surrey pet owners who have found themselves in desperate domestic or financial circumstances. All the work carried out by the Trust is voluntary – no-one is paid. It is a huge testament to Jacqueline that the Animal Protection Trust, with its loyal band of volunteers, has continued its work of ‘helping pets and helping people’.

Gerald White, Staines

In 1990, Gerald White was diagnosed with cancer but after successful treatment was able to return to work for Air Canada at Heathrow until retirement in 2005. Having heard an advert on the radio about Breakthrough Breast Cancer’s aim of raising £15 million in aid of the UK’s first dedicated research centre, the 56-year-old became one of the charity’s £1,000 Challengers. He had noticed that passengers coming through the airport lounge wanted to dispose of their loose foreign change and put a collection point up for them to donate. As the scheme took hold, it became Change 4 Change and has since raised over £100,000.

Colin Whitear, Guildford

Involved with the Sea Cadets for 15 years, mostly as commanding officer of the Guildford Unit, Colin Whitear devotes many hours each week to the organisation, which is based on the traditions and heritage of the Royal Navy and aims to develop youngsters into responsible adults using a maritime curriculum. The Cadets meet twice a week for parades as well as often at the weekend for both sporting activities and competitions.

Pauline Woods, Kingston

Founder of the charity Born Too Soon, Pauline Woods has helped save the lives  of thousands of premature babies and given hope, support and advice to parents. She set up the charity after losing two children and since the start, 26 years ago, she has raised over £3million to help Kingston Hospital’s neo-natal unit. Over the years, Pauline has helped comfort countless parents by giving endless compassion and enthusiasm. Nothing is too much for Pauline and she always goes above and beyond the call of duty to help out.

• If you’d like to nominate someone, please e-mail their name, hometown, age and the reason for your recommendation to feedback@surreylife.co.uk with SLCH in the subject line.

Members Comments

• Comment by: Skillway 25 January 2011 - 12:34

  Greg Bleach, Haslemere, Workshop Manager Skillway, Godalming.
  Greg bleach is the face of Skillway and a committed ambassador of the charity. For the past eight years he has undertaken the onerous tasks of recruiting regular volunteer staff, meeting Heads and SENCOs of schools, local business people and dignitaries, interviewing prospective students, ordering and maintaining equipment, planning the syllabus, building portfolios and of course, supporting and teaching the pupils. His heart is in raising the self-esteem of students and giving them 'Can Do' confidence which he achieves through his paternalistic sympathy and understanding of emotional teenagers. He is modest in his achievements, shuns the limelight and is enormously valued and respected.

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• Comment by: Diana_Roberts 28 January 2011 - 15:28

  I nominate Sheila Willis - she is the PCSO for Stoughton area in GUildford. In addition to her job - which she is very good at - she does an incredible amount for the local community, including being a chief instigator in the Stoughton Stroll About some 18 months ago and last year raising funds for Children in Need - she's a real hero doing a very hard job, and has other people's interest at heart.

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