THE OUTSTANDING quality of winners in Saddleworth’s first unique community award scheme has been praised by the organiser.
T
he first ever Above and Beyond awards, which recognise unassuming people who have quietly gone the extra mile for their communities, will be presented at a special celebration dinner in October.
The scheme, which is the brainchild of journalist and Saddleworth Independent founder Ken Bennett, will see each winner receive a keepsake at the event at Dobcross Band and Social Club.
However, the identity of each the winners will remain a secret until the awards night.
The accolades will be presented by the event’s VIP guest of honour, mountaineering legend Paul Braithwaite, from Delph.
He played a major role in the successful ascent of Everest’s South West Face in 1975 and has had a career filled with notable mountaineering achievements.
The Above and Beyond award scheme is backed by the Saddleworth and Lees District Partnership and part funded by contributing community groups or associations.
Each winner and their guests will be accompanied to the dinner by a community representative.
Ken said: “I’m delighted with the response from the community’s committees.
‘With the help of their members they have made truly humbling and uplifting choices of winners which really underpin the Above and Beyond ideals.
“This really will be a celebration of individual talents and the incredible commitment they have brought to their communities in their own unassuming ways.”
He added: “I would like to give a heartfelt personal thanks to all the village committees who grasped the vision and backed the scheme. Thanks to them it is a real success.”
The Above and Beyond awards presentation and dinner will take place on Thursday, October 20 at Dobcross Band and Social Club on Platt Lane, Dobcross.
For further information, contact: Ken Bennett: call 07802 966922 or email: kd_bennett@yahoo.co.uk
