Hundreds of committed volunteers and their supporters have celebrated the borough's annual awards scheme, Harrow Heroes.

Elliot Hall in Harrow Arts Centre, Hatch End, was buzzing with excitement and full of friendly faces on Tuesday night, October 14, all eager to discover the winners.

Harrow Heroes celebrates the hard work, dedication and commitment of local volunteers, and aims to recognise the thousands of unsung heroes who are doing so much within their communities every day.

The overall winner this year was devoted 95 year-old Phyllis Lancaster from Hatch End, who has worked tirelessly for charities locally and nationally, worked as an overseas service officer, knitted blankets for people living in disaster stricken areas and is described as reliable, sincere and a great role model.

Although she could not attended in person, her daughter, Hilary Fountain collected the award on her behalf.

Harrow Community Choir

She said: "I am very pleased for her; she couldn't come tonight because she is 95 years-old so she thought it might have been a bit much, but she is very pleased to have been given the award and I am very happy for her.

“She is a hero but she doesn't think she is. I keep telling her she is."

This year’s nomineess were judged by Margaret Matchett, the president of Edgware and Stanmore Rotary Club; Ann Groves, overall winner in 2013; Councillor Sue Anderson, the community, culture and resident engagement portfolio holder at Harrow Council, and Superintendent Mark Wolski of Harrow Police.

Winners in the other categories included Khushal Shah, who picked up the Young Volunteer Award. He is a volunteer with Harrow Police cadets, on the anti-bullying committee and is a Neighbourhood Champion.

Sandra Walsh won the Pertemps Bringing People Together Award. The warehouse manager at Harrow Foodbank, she has helped numerous local charities.

Vivien Raggett won the Inspiring Volunteer Award, despite her own health challenges.

She continues to put the well being of others before her own, and has been a co-ordinator for Contact the Elderly since 2007, as well as volunteering for several local children's charities.

The Health and Wellbeing Volunteer Award went to Zak Andrawos, who has campaigned to keep the swimming pool in Harrow open, despite funding issues. He was described as ‘an excellent role model’.

The Lifelong Volunteer Award went to 90 year-old Alice Anson, who has helped charities for over 40 years, especially ones who help women who have suffered domestic abuse.

She said: "I am very pleased to have won the award, the prize is a wonderful gift for the women's centre. Volunteering is a challenge but it's been a pleasure. It's very nice to get this, I have never had one before."

The final award of the night went to Harrow Citizen Advice Bureau Volunteers, in the Volunteer Award Category.

Borough Commander Simon Ovens sings with the Harrow Community Choir.

The keynote speaker of the evening was former journalist and ITN newsreader Martyn Lewis.

Also speaking to the ceremony via video link was Shami Chakrabarti, the director of human rights pressure group Liberty and who comes from Harrow.

She told the audience: "Volunteering is increasingly important, providing vital services to the members of the public.

“You are unsung heroes, but hopefully after tonight unsung no more.

“All the best with your volunteering and your public service in the future."

Councillor Sue Anderson, portfolio holder for community, culture and resident engagement at Harrow Council said:

“I would like to congratulate all our nominees and winners at this year’s Harrow’s Heroes Award. Our volunteers are valuable members of the community who go out of their way and work tirelessly to help others in our borough.

Harrow’s Heroes recognises their work and I am pleased that we are able to say thank you to our volunteers and share some truly inspiring stories of the outstanding achievements and contributions from our volunteers.

I would also like to extend my thanks to staff and sponsors who made this possible, the Arts Centre and performers from Lyric Performing Arts and Harrow Community Choir who entertained us all.”

Nominees for 2014


Young Volunteer Award

Recognising outstanding contributions from volunteers who are 25 years of age or

under.

• Akilaa Logeswaran

• Alexandra Bach

• Andrew Hamblin

• Emma Brooks

• Hana Syed

• Husna Ahmed

• Joe Phillips

• Khushal Shah

Pertemps Bringing People Together Award

Recognising a volunteer who has successfully developed relationships between

organisations or individuals either in their local community, across London, nationally

or internationally.

• Adeeb Ibrahim Jamaal

• Annaledchumy Balasingham

• Asha Khandke

• Beverley Philips

• Chandulal V Shah

• Donald Bunting

• Elena Dodds

• Fadumo Yusuf

• Kira Rouget-Lyell

• Miles Otway

• Neha Shavdia

• Parisha Sonigra

• Ravi Dave

• Shahid Wahab

• Tana Purani Navaratnalingam

• Valentino Memaj

• Godfrey O’Callaghan

• Gunalakshumie Velupillai

• Morag Hayes

• Sam Joseph

• Sandra Walsh

• Shirish Dodhia

• Stanley Conway

Inspiring Volunteer Award

Recognising a volunteer that has demonstrated personal courage and/or overcome

obstacles to help others or encourage those around them.

• Angela Mary Hook

• Avril Candler

• Beverley Sterling

• Casamira Ahmed Abdi

• Delia Cazzato

• Karen Ayton

• Khushal Shah

• Michael Rowe

Health and Wellbeing

Volunteer Award

A volunteer who contributes in the arena of health, wellbeing or the environment to

benefit the local community.

• Ann Freeman

• Beverley Phillips

• Bhanuben Vadgama

• Charlie Churchill

• Claire Knight

• Gary Glazerman

• Jason Frederick Bowles

• John Hollingdale

• Nadir Wahab

• Punitha Perinparaja

• Rex Hallett

• Shaista Jabeen

• Simon Clark

• Suresh Patel

• Vivien Raggett

• Kanta Shah

• Nautam Raval

• Preena Patel

• Roxana-Elena Preotescu

• Saroj Kale

• Sheena Hirani

• Vinodkumar Vaghela

• Zak Andrawos

Lifelong Volunteer Award

Recognition of volunteers who have demonstrated an ongoing contribution to the

community for 20 years or more.

• Alice Anson

• Audrey Hallett

• Ben Hart

• Betty Brown

• Cabdulqadir Afeey Mohamed

• Charles George Englefield

Volunteer Team Award

A dynamic and inspiring group of volunteers that have used innovative ideas or

approaches and/or inspired others to make a real and lasting difference.

• Changes Club Steering Group of Volunteers

• Harrow Community First Responder Team

• Firm Foundation’s Winter Night Shelter Volunteers

• Francis Road Progress Group

• Friends of West Harrow Park

• Fruitables Project

• Harrow CAB Volunteers

• Harrow Health Walks Volunteer Walk Leaders

• Harrow Mencap Volunteers

• Harrow Street Pastors

• Honeybun Tenants and Residents Association

• Methodist Church Volunteers

• Older Carers Computer Course Volunteers

• St Luke’s Hospice Bereavement Support Volunteers

• Tanglewood Team

• The 1st Rayners Lane Scout Group

• The Headstone Manor Museum - Front of House Volunteers

• Youth Volunteering & Social Action Team