Nominate your Citizen of the Year

More people have been nominated as we search for that inspirational person to be crowned Citizen of the Year 2014.

The Courier/Weekly News, the Brakes Trust - the independent supporters’ body for fans of Leamington FC - and sponsors Alsters Kelley solicitors are looking to reward those local people who really make a difference to our communities.

Rob Williams is one of those whose names has been put forward for the work he carries out at Sydenham’s Sydni Centre.

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He was nominated by Sarah Windrum who said: “Rob is a volunteer co-ordinator at the Sydni Centre and he has applied his pro-active nature and business acumen to really making this role a success.

“The amount of regular volunteers at the centre has increased under his leadership over the past 18 months and because he is a volunteer himself he understands the true value of those people who give up their time unpaid. “He deliberately spends a lot of time and effort understanding what each individual volunteer is hoping to achieve and therefore strengthening their bond with the centre and their sense of purpose.

“He makes every volunteer feel hugely valued and appreciated on a personal basis. And he does all this whilst himself dealing with the

everyday challenges of having cerebral palsy. I deliberately mention this last because it is the fantastic, positive and pro-active person that I want to celebrate but I feel it is important to say that he brings a personal knowledge of the disabilities that threaten to hold us all back in life whether seen or unseen.

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“He is living proof that what you can achieve is all about your attitude.”

There are two categories in the Citizen of the Year - adult and under 16 - and we are now looking for your nominations for that person we can all take inspiration from. They can be from any walk of life. All we ask is that they live in Warwick district and have done good deeds to help others.

You can find out more and make your nomination by visiting www.citizenoftheyear.org.uk or you can send your nominations to COTY, Courier/Weekly News, 32 Hamilton Terrace, Leamington, CV32 4LY.

Please explain in no more than 250 words why your nomination deserves the award and please include your name and a daytime contact number. Nominations close on September 1.

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The winners will be revealed at a gala awards ceremony featuring live entertainment (see below) at the Bridge House Theatre, Warwick School, on Friday September 26. All profits will be split between the Brakes Trust and the chosen charities, Macmillan and the Side by Side Theatre Company.

Anyone is welcome to attend the ceremony. Tickets are priced: adult £12, concession £10 and U16 £5. Visit www.bridgehousetheatre.co.uk to book.

Headlining the gala awards ceremony at the Bridge House Theatre, Warwick School, on September 26, will be Tom Barnwell, fresh from his appearance on BBC’s The Voice. Tom will be backed on stage by Sorority from JayKays Dance Company, making a welcome return to the show. On The Voice, Tom wowed all four coaches in his blind audition by performing his rendition of Estelle and Kanye West’s American Boy.

Fourteen-year-old singing sensation Amy Thomas has already performed at previous Citizen of the Year Awards’ nights - and she is back again this year. Amy sings a variety of classical songs from the musicals and easy listening music. The North Leamington School pupil has been singing since she was nine years old, when she won her first singing competition. She said: “I feel honoured to be a part of The Citizen of the Year Awards and I hope that people enjoy being entertained by my voice”.

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Also performing will be Warwickshire Young Voices Chamber Choir. WYV was established in 2008, with a passion to provide youngsters access to quality music education. To date, the voluntary group has given over 1,500 local youngsters vocal coaching and experience of professional-standard live performance. The chamber choir is auditioned from youngsters aged seven to 16 in community choirs and will be performing a piece specially written for the night by musical director David Iles.

Finishing off the line-up is Jazz Combo!, one of Warwick School’s 50 musical ensembles that rehearse weekly, giving boys the opportunity to grow both socially and musically. To book tickets, visit 
www. bridgehousetheatre.co.uk

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