Rayleigh man Adam Mapleson is the District Citizen of the Year for 2008. We found this tribute to him on YouTube:
As the District Council website explains today:
Have a go hero, Adam Mapleson is the new Rochford District Citizen of the Year 2008.
Adam, 24, from Rayleigh, was given the award in recognition of the bravery he displayed when he tried to stop two masked men stealing a cash box from a woman guard at Rayleigh train station last May. Adam was shot in the chest as he stepped in to defend the woman security guard, and was rushed to Southend hospital where he underwent emergency surgery and spent more than a week in hospital following the shooting.
Adam’s brave actions earned him nationwide recognition and British Transport Police hailed him a ‘hero’ for his courageous actions when tackling the two masked men.
The Chairman of the Council Keith Gibbs will present Adam with his Citizen of the Year award, which is designed to highlight those who make outstanding contributions to our community, at his Civic Dinner on March 28, where Adam will be a VIP guest.
The award is decided by a special panel of councillors (of which Chris Black was a member)
Another award goes to some pupils at Sweyne Park school:
A special Environmental award recognising actions to help the environment has also gone to a group of pupils from tutor group 10 NHA at The Sweyne Park School.
The award was made in recognition of the ‘Eco-Warriors’ (as the group like to be known) efforts in actively promoting of environmental issues throughout the school. Their efforts included, setting up a recycling scheme throughout the entire school by distributing ‘blue boxes’ to all teaching rooms, meeting with their local Councillors and MP Mark Francois to discuss environmental issues, preparing and leading an assembly for year 9 students on environmental issues and achieving the bronze ‘eco-schools award’.
Meanwhile, there’s some old coverage of Adam in the Times , , in the Register and also here on onlinefocus There’s also a BBC feature and interview here
…. and I am very proud to say that my daughter is one of those “Eco-Warriors” from 10 Nha at Sweyne Park School. Their form Tutor Nicky Hann has been an driving force in the scheme.
That’s great….. 🙂
I had the pleasure of being invited to attend at the presentation of these awards at the Freight House last night and was an extremely proud parent!!
The children’s attitude to the environmental prpoject at School has been first class and they are a credit to Andy Hodgkinson and his team at Sweyne Park.
The children received an engraved glass trophy which will sit proudly in the School trophy cabinet and Miss Hann was presented with flowers. Hopefully pictures will appear in the press shortly.
Also thanks to Rochford District Council for the buffet and drinks.