Awards spotlight Canterbury’s community heroes
Three pillars of the community were presented with Lord Mayor’s Awards to recognise all the work they do to make the district a better place.
The awards celebrate local heroes living in Canterbury, Herne Bay, Whitstable and the surrounding villages.
This year’s deserving winners were revealed by the Lord Mayor of Canterbury, Cllr Jean Butcher, at a special ceremony at Tower House on Thursday (30 January).
The first recipient was Dan Rattigan from Canterbury who runs Warhammer Alliance Canterbury – a free youth club that provides a setting for young people to take part in the Warhammer hobby.
Described as ‘kind, patient and inspiring’, Dan runs the youth club in his own time on top of his job as a teacher and holding tabletop hobby events and gaming sessions as part of Gothic Games Canterbury.
His nominations cite his support for the University of Kent’s Warhammer club by donating free equipment as well as his fundraising events for local charities.
The second recipient was Maureen Hawkes from Hoath whose nomination noted her unwavering service to the community by organising a number of local initiatives including monthly coffee mornings, festive events, and a regular community newsletter.
Maureen’s nomination highlights how she ‘has fostered a close-knit, vibrant community where everyone feels they belong’ through her voluntary work and that she brings ‘warmth, joy, and a strong sense of connection to residents of all ages.’
Barbara Plews from Canterbury was the final award winner, having been nominated for setting up a low-cost badminton club for local children back in 2017.
She created Canterbury Junior Badminton Club after feeling there was a lack of opportunities for children to play badminton locally and now gives up her time to coach every Saturday morning on top of accompanying the children at local tournaments and league matches.
Cllr Butcher said: “Reading the heart-warming nominations sent in was incredibly inspiring but certainly made judging a really tough job.
“Although there were so many who deserved thanks, each of the winners selected have shown a true sense of community spirit and had a profound impact on the lives of those living in the district.
“It’s a real privilege to recognise Dan, Maureen and Barbara for their deep commitment to our community through the Lord Mayor’s Awards.”
Pictured above, from left to right, are Lady Mayoress Di Baldock, Maureen Hawkes, Dan Rattigan, Barbara Plews, and Lord Mayor Cllr Jean Butcher.
Published: 31 January 2025