Tibor’s paddle power and dedication earns him an early nomination

Leamrow_LC_Oct23 Tibor Herbent ( Coach ) with Leamington Spa Canoe Club members.

Mr Herbent, who is 75 this year and has canoed since the 1970s, has been coaching and helping out at Leamington Canoe Club for about 20 years and can often be seen paddling along the River Leam.

He was nominated by his pupil Jayden Yurkwich-Ell.

The nine-year-old of Box Close, Whitnash, said: “Tibor has looked after me from day one, teaching me how to paddle from scratch.

“He is over 70 and still at the club every week, even in the freezing cold, and can often be seen paddling the Leam too.

“His commitment to us youngsters gives us chance to enjoy a sport that is quite rare. He has taught for years and I would love to see him recognised for this.”

Mr Herbent is currently visiting family in Hungary but his wife Sylvia said he would be “very pleased and flattered” to have been nominated for the award.

She said: “The young man who made the nomination is obviously determined that Tibor’s efforts over the years should be formally recognised.

“Recently, he was one of three finalists for the Touch FM Pride of Warwick District Awards in the Educator of the Year Category, nominated by Jayden.

“Tibor was also one of six finalists for the BBC Unsung  Hero, Midlands, a few years ago. That was a pleasant night out.”

The campaign to find the Citizen of the Year and Young Citizen of The Year - which publicly recognises individuals most deserving of the awards - was launched last week. Now in its third year, the event is run and managed by The Brakes Trust in conjunction with the Leamington  Courier, Warwick Courier and Kenilworth Weekly News

Nominations of no more than 150 words listing the outstanding qualities of the individual must be marked “Coty” including the name, address, ‘phone number of the sponsor and sent to [email protected] or hand delivered to Courier offices at 32, Hamilton Terrace, Leamington Spa CV32 4LY no later than Monday, September 2. Any young citizen must be no older than 16 on the closing date. There were over 20 nominations last year and the quality was so high that the judges’ panel encourages readers to nominate the same individuals again.

The Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance has been chosen as this year’s charity. The Gala Award ceremony will be held at a new venue Guy Nelson Hall, Warwick School, Warwick, on Sunday  September 29.