Kingsbridge Town Council have given out their awards for the Kingsbridge Community Champions.

To encourage wider community participation in the old Citizen of the Year award, Kingsbridge Town Council launched the new Community Champions award with six different categories: Arts and Culture, Business, Environment, Sport, Volunteer and Young champions.

On Tuesday, May 9, at the Kingsbridge Town Council Annual General meeting, Mayor Chris Povey presented the awards in front of fellow councillors and other members of the public.

Arts and Culture Champion was won by Steve Mammatt, who dedicates many hours towards resurrecting the Kingsbridge Miniature Railway as well as his continued involvement with both the Food and Music Festival and Kingsbridge Chamber of Commerce.

Environment and Young Community Champions were both awarded to three brothers, Jamie, Angus and Giles Grant. Often spending weekends walking around the Kingsbridge area with family members picking up litter, Jamie, Angus and Giles proudly uphold the Keep Britain Tidy slogan and even asked for litter pickers for Christmas.

Business Community Champion was awarded to Samantha Dennis, who runs the Kingsbridge Information Centre. Sam’s willingness to give a lot of time and energy to the organisation of Kingsbridge Fair and Kingsbridge Celebrates Christmas and led the Kingsbridge Information Centre to Bronze position in the South West Tourist Board Awards.

Volunteer Community Champion was awarded to Nicola Fox. Nicola received the award for helping to fundraise for the Motor Neurone Disease Association, alongside many other volunteers, as well as playing piano for elderly residents in Kingsbridge and supporting many other local voluntary events and organisations.

Bruce Pritchard was also awarded Volunteer Community Champion for his work with as the Group Scout Leader of the 6th Kingsbridge Scout Group. Over nearly 30 years in the role, he has organised endless activities including climbing trips to Dartington, local beach cleans and night hikes across Dartmoor.