Arundel Community Award winner picked

Representatives and individuals from many groups, societies and charities serving Arundel and the wider community gathered for the ceremony on Thursday.

Arundel mayor James Stewart presented the 2015 Arundel Community Award to volunteer co-ordinator Nell Paton for her work in the creation and management of Arundel Community Orchard on Herington Field.

Thanking ‘the unsung heroes of Arundel’, he said: “We are lucky to live in such a great historic town on the edge of the downs and we are doubly lucky in Arundel that there is so much for us to see, do and enjoy – most of this is organised by community groups, churches, the Chamber of Commerce or other volunteer organisations.

“You just have to look at the directory of groups in the Bell Magazine or on Arundel.org – there are over 60 covering the arts, pre-school and youngsters, social, sports and a wide range of special interest groups, including Agenda 21, allotments, Riding for the Disabled and St Nicholas Bellringers, not to mention the Rotary, Lions, Probus, Royal British Legion and many other charitable organisations.”

The Arundel Community Orchard Group, established in 2012, is supported by Arun District Council and Arun Wellbeing.

Brighton Permaculture Trust carefully sourced the variety of trees and masterminded the planting day in February, 2013.

Arundel CE Primary School has been involved from the start and there have been several orchard open days.

Nell is also a member of Arundel Agenda 21 and MAVES (Mid-Arun Valley Environmental Survey).

The winner of the Arundel Community Award is chosen by Arundel Town Council from publicly-nominated groups or individuals.

The other eight nominees this year were Arundel CE Primary School head teacher Andrew Simpson, members of Arundel Festival committee, members of Arundel Gardens Association, library worker and volunteer Cherry Dibley, The Bell editor Gill Farquarson, walking tour leader Martin Alderton, singing group volunteer Sue Taylor and Arundel Museum volunteers.

Mr Stewart gave a special mention to Arundel town crier Angela Standing, who has served for the last ten years and who is also currently deputy mayor.

He said: “I don’t think it would be easy to quantify the positive effect she has had on the town during her term, organising the town criers’ competition here twice and promoting the town at other competitions she enters at other places.

“In 2014, she won the town criers’ competition in Wareham and was described as ‘Arundel’s loudest lady’, who else could part the crowd during Arundel by Candlelight to allow the live nativity to safely walk down the high street!”

In a time honoured Arundel tradition, Mr Stewart presented the town crier with port and stilton, for her services during the year.

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