Jenny, aged 80, is one of Somerset's community heroes (From This is The West Country)

Jenny, aged 80, is one of Somerset's community heroes

1:00pm Tuesday 30th October 2012 in News

PEOPLE who have devoted themselves to their communities have been honoured with awards.

A total of 72 people, several of them from Sedgemoor, were recognised at the Somerset County Council Chairman’s Awards.

Council chairman John Edney, who presented the awards at Taunton Rugby Club, said: “The number of awards presented this year is the highest we’ve ever had so it goes to show that community spirit is alive and well and living in Somerset.

“We heard remarkable stories of what people in all walks of life carry out, things that might not otherwise happen without their goodwill.”

The Sedgemoor winners included: Gina Bryant and Ann Cowling from Cannington, Carol Dyer from Berrow, Paul Gripton from Combwich, Norman and Marian Kerswill from Stockland Bristol, and Jenny Salway from Basonbridge.

Gina Bryant won this year’s Child of Cannington Award for service to the community. She founded and runs a weekly lunch club for the elderly, and supports the village primary school and the United Reformed Church.

Ann Cowling is also devoted to village life in Cannington, particularly focussing on links between the school and church. She is involved with numerous village organisations, collects for charities, has donated more than 100 pints of bloods and has worked tirelessly for the National Children’s Society for 24 years.

Carol Dyer, a parish councillor in Berrow, volunteers for the village football clubs and community association.

Paul Gripton has been a key figure in Combwich, helping prepare the village’s responses to the challenges posed by EDF Energy’s Hinkley C project.

In Stockland Bristol, Norman and Marian Kerswill run a home for the elderly which they set up 20 years ago.

Norman is a former parish council chairman, while Marian is flower show president and a WI member.

Jenny Salway, aged 80, has been a parish councillor in Basonbridge for 35 years, including 12 as chairman.

She is a member of the Royal British Legion and Royal Air Force Association, a pre-school governor, governor at East Huntspill School, member of the Church Hall committee and Harvest Home committee. As a member of the WI, she helped raise funds to buy land and build a village hall, and buy land for a village playing field.