A life-saving rail worker, the founder of the highly successful Wimbledon Bookfest and an agency that has raised thousands for the Wimbledon Guild were recognised at the fourth annual Merton Community Awards.

Hosted at South Thames College’s Taste restaurant in Morden last night, the Wimbledon Guardian organised event, in conjunction with Merton Council, celebrated individuals and groups who have dedicated themselves to helping others in the borough and achieving outstanding results in the world of sport and the arts.

An audience of just over 100 was entertained by South Thames College students Eloise Sinclair and Michael Costello following a speech from leader of the council Stephen Alambritis who spoke in praise of the achievements of all those who had been nominated for the awards and called for the awards to continue for many years to come.

Wimbledon Times:

Michael Costello and Eloise Sinclair

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A packed out auditorium

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Leader of Merton Council Stephen Alambritis

Winners were warmly applauded, with huge cheers in particular for Young Person’s Achievement winner Joshua Turner and Arts and Entertainment winner Fiona Razvi.

Originally launched in 2013 as the Merton Civic Awards, the event has consistently attracted more than 100 nominations across the nine separate categories, and has been ably supported by sponsors McDonald’s, Better.org, Holiday Inn Express and the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association.

Mayor of Merton Brenda Fraser, who presented the final award for outstanding achievement, said: “I am very happy to champion the Merton Community Awards because they recognise the hard work and dedication of the borough’s unsung heroes.

“As the Mayor, I see first-hand the amazing and selfless things people do every day, often without recognition.”

She also used her speech to single out the achievements of her overall winner, nine-year-old Joshua, who has raised more than £2,000 for Cancer Research during the past two years by organising bake sale.

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Mayor of Merton Brenda Fraser with Joshua Turner

Winners:

Act of Courage

Adam Langley

Estifanos Habtesellasie

Sarah Poveda

Arts and Ents

Fiona Razvi

Soo Bishop

Paul Zerdin

Business

Haygarth

Thill Srikantharajah

Tots Landing

Community

Vanessa Anenden

Paul the Irene Strank

Shirley Cave

Parent/Carer

George McAdam

Arieanne Bolt

Pushparani Ratnasingam

Teacher

Ann Ellis

Sarah Lyne

Isabella Alltraine

Sport

Diell Zejnullahu

Anthony Bravo

Jonathan Winter

Volunteer

Alison Pelikan

Martin Marshall

Lesley Sorrell

Young Person

Joshua Turner

Kwaku Amoako

Anya Wilen

Mayor’s award

Joshua Turner