Outgoing Mayor awards local people for their community service

Basingstoke and Deane's outgoing Mayor Cllr David Leeks has honoured community champions to thank them for their outstanding service to the borough.

Cllr Leeks, who was Mayor of Basingstoke and Deane from May 2023 to May 2024 and who also stepped down as a borough councillor after nearly 30 years, handed out the awards at the annual Mayor Making ceremony that took place on Thursday 9 May.

Cllr Leeks said: "Without community-minded people who are prepared to step up and provide groups, activities and support to others, this borough would be a much poorer place.

"I have championed volunteering throughout my Mayoral year as I know, both by being a volunteer and by using the services of local groups, the very real difference they make to our communities. It is therefore a great pleasure to be able to honour just a few of these remarkable people as my Mayoral term comes to an end."

The Mayor's awards went to Paul Temple for his role with Basingstoke Gymnastics Club, Lieutenant Colonel Lisa Niezgoda for setting up the Adventure Ranger Corps and Grace Powell for her involvement with the Multicultural Forum and the Basingstoke African Caribbean Catholic Association.

Cllr Leeks said: "Paul Temple was a founder trustee of Basingstoke Gymnastics Club and has been associated with the club for 30 years. During that time he has enriched the lives of many of the borough's young people."

On Lieutenant Colonel Niezgoda's award he said: "Lisa, along with the late Ian Campbell, set up the Adventure Ranger Corps which has now been running for 30 years. The rangers are a uniformed group for young people aged eight to 18 years that promotes team work, leadership skills and other life skills through military style training.

"Grace Powell has lived and worked in Basingstoke for many years. She is a strong voice for Black women in the borough and was part of the Windrush 75 exhibition last year. She is also a member of the multicultural forum and Basingstoke African Caribbean Catholic Association.

The Mayor's business award went to manager of Basingstoke Foodbank Paula Vallance for providing for providing support, help and advice to local people in need.