Since our interview with Hampshire’s new High Sheriff for 2013, Rupert Younger, back in May we have been busy working with him and his office on an exiting new community awards for 2014. Read on to find out more
High Sheriffs are entitled to give awards to members of their community who deserve special recognition for their community activities. These awards carry no monetary value, but consist of a certificate with the insignia of the office signed by the serving High Sheriff. They are seen as high prestige recognition of the contribution of the individual within their local community and Hampshire Life are delighted to be involved with the process this year.
Awards can be presented at the discretion of the High Sheriff to anyone who they deem to be a deserving individual. While the High Sheriff does have the great privilege of meeting an enormous amount of people during his year in office, it is inevitable that the amount of knowledge that he will have on who deserves such an award will be limited. To help Rupert with the award decisions, he has appointed eight regional Awards Chairs whose role it is to identify, research and recommend individuals or groups for Hampshire High Sheriff Community Awards during 2013-14.
The final list of High Sheriff Community Award winners will be discussed and chosen in October and we would like to offer you, the reader, the chance to nominate somebody within your community who deserves to be recognised. These names will be added to the list compiled by the other panel judges and will be awarded a special Hampshire Life Reader Nominated Award.
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Criteria
The High Sheriff is looking for unsung heroes, residing in Hampshire who work voluntarily to produce outstanding results. Both organisations, as well as individuals will be taken in to account and ideally the candidate or candidates will not have won an award previously for his/her or their work.
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The ceremony
Once names have been shortlisted in October, each nominee will be visited between October 2013 and March 2014 and an official ceremony celebrating the award winners will take place in Winchester in March 2014. The closing date for the Hampshire Life Reader Nominated Award will be September 16th 2013. All nominations will need to be sent to ceri.mcqueen@archant.co.uk, titled High Sheriff Awards and with 100 words on why your nominated individual or organisation deserves to be recognised.
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Meet the judging panel
South West
Sandra Robertson
Sandra is the Chief Investment Officer and Chief Executive Officer of Oxford University Endowment Management Limited (OUem). Prior to starting OUem, Sandra was at the Wellcome Trust, as Co-Head of Portfolio Management.
OUem manages money solely for the charitable entities that comprise the collegiate University of Oxford. Sandra is a trustee of the Queen’s Trust and a Non Executive Director of RIT plc. She lives in Woodlands in the New Forest with her husband and son.
Basingstoke
Councillor
Keith Chapman
Keith has a strong local government background and has been a Hampshire County Councillor since 2001. He is currently Executive Member for Culture, Recreation and Countryside. Keith stepped down from being a Borough Councillor in 2012 after 33 years. He has a long record of active interest and practical involvement in local schools and the Hampshire County Music Service, as well as a strong interest in the Arts and enjoys regularly attending concerts at the Anvil. Keith is very much a family man and is married to Jenny and has three children – he also enjoys playing golf.
North East
Claire Lloyd
Claire Lloyd worked in the City, moved into teaching and as a result of working with the Order of St John, became involved in charity fundraising, most recently running the North Hampshire Medical Fund at Basingstoke and North Hampshire Foundation Trust Hospital.
Claire is now married to James, has five children and lives near Winchester. She has a wealth of experience within the health and children’s charities sectors, is a fanatical sports enthusiast, a lover of 19th century European literature and drama, adores dogs and would like, one day, to spend her time writing travel books and articles.
Winchester
Mary Dawson
Mary’s career has been in drama teaching and arts management. For 10 years she was Director of The Point, Eastleigh. She now works in a freelance capacity as well as being Chair of The Theatre Royal Winchester. Mary is also founder and director of West Meon Theatre, a community theatre group that produces theatre work in and around the Meon Valley.
South East
Steve Toogood
Steve Toogood is a director of the WS Atkins defence business. The business provides technical services, such as acquisition and programme support, safety engineering and mechanical design to the MOD and the defence industry. Steve is the Colts Coordinator at Hambledon Cricket Club, where he is also a coach and manager of a junior team.
Southampton and Eastleigh
Darren Butler
Darren has been a financial adviser with Openwork for three and a half years and lives in Hedge End with his wife and daughter. He is an active contributor to the Openwork Foundation which supports children’s charities throughout Hampshire. One of Darren’s interests outside of work is acting and he has been a member of the West Meon Theatre company for over 10 years performing in a variety of shows including Shakespeare and Pantomime.
Portsmouth and Fareham
Dean Rockett
Dean Rockett is a married father of two and lives in Portsmouth. He first met the High Sheriff in 2006 when their sons played in the same cricket team and they have remained firm friends ever since. Born and raised in Hampshire, Dean works as a freelance proofreader and editor. He has worked on royal biographies, home-brew manuals and everything in between.
Dean is a keen golfer and cricket fan, enjoying regular trips to the Ageas Bowl.
North West
Dr Charles Sandy
Charles Sandy is a Consultant Eye Surgeon with an interest in cataract surgery and plastic surgery. His NHS practice is based at North Hampshire Hospital, Basingstoke and he has a private practice at the Hampshire Clinic. He has lived in a village near Andover for the past 12 years with his wife, three children and two dogs.
Find out more about the High Sheriff awards at www.rupert-younger.hampshirehighsheriff.org.uk
