The Rotary Club of Horbury and Ossett Phoenix held a dinner on Thursday 28 February at Heath Cottage Hotel, Dewsbury, to recognise and honour 5 local people and for their contributions to the wider community.

Club President Robert Cockroft presented each recipient with a framed certificate and a piece of cut glass as tokens of the recognition, he said “We have had a wonderful relaxed evening entertaining the awardees. Each has made their contribution to our community in different ways but all of them have enriched other peoples lives with their own selflessness and commitment. Our community would be much worse off without them and similarly minded people.”

The good citizens are:

Mrs Gwen Poole for many years of tireless help to the elderly and visiting the sick in Horbury even after recovering from her own injury and illness.
Mr Graham Firth, of Ossett and is Chairman of Ossett Town AFC, he was nominated for his unpaid services to both senior and junior football in Ossett. In particularly for the development of junior football at Ossett town AFC the ground and providing the opportunity for hundreds of boys and girls to play the game.
Mr John Eley of Horbury Road, Lupset, has been raising money for charity for the past 15 years and in that time has raised about £20,000 by enjoying his hobby of growing things, in particular perennials and bedding plants and then selling them as they are or making them up into hanging baskets and mangers etc (300 last season). The money has been donated to a range of good causes including local schools, his church, scout group and charities such as the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, the RNLI and Water Aid.
Mr Tom Greatorex of Horbury, has for the past 30yrs been a stalwart of Horbury Victoria Brass Band. He dedicates his free time to teaching and conducting the Learner, Intermediate and Youth bands at Horbury. He also still helps out with the senior band from time to time when they are short of a player or conductor. There are many top quality brass band instrumentalists who started their career under the careful guidance of Tom. Christmas time would not be complete without the sight of Tom leading members of the band playing Christmas songs and carols around the pubs and clubs of Horbury and raising some much needed funds to ensure the continuance of the band.
Mr Daniel Blakeley of Horbury, for his inspiration to the young people of our community. Former Horbury School pupil, Daniel Blakeley, a courageous student suffering from the debilitating condition MS hauled himself through an exhausting 14-day sponsored Himalayan trek to raise thousands of pounds for the MS Society. He was one of only three to complete the 140-mile slog through the Himalayan foothills close to Everest base camp.

(Left to right: Tom Greatorex, John Eley, Gwen Poole, Daniel Blakeley, Pre. Bob Cockroft, Graham Firth)