“…that little bit extra”

Many of the 200 people who packed the Town Hall reception rooms for the fourth Annual Burngreave New Years honours event felt it was the best ever, with a wealth of talent and commitment represented by the nominees for 2007.

This year the emphasis was on youth with nominees including Burngreave Young People’s Group; the 186th Rainbows, Brownies and Guides; school administrator Jackie, from Whiteways; special needs teacher Christine, from Firshill Primary and Abtisam, Diane and Amin who all work with young people from their base at the Fir Vale Centre.

A special mention should be made for ‘volunteers’. Winnie Bentley is still a ‘Christchurch’ girl and the inspiration and force behind the successful campaign to get the bowling green re-laid in Abbeyfield Park. Winnie says “Pitsmoor’s on the up – and there’s nowhere else to live for me”.

Halwo Hassan lived in Bolton, Lancashire and Buroa, Northern Somalia, before she lived on Catherine Road. Since 1999 when her eldest enrolled at Parkwood High, then Herries School, Halwo has been helping combat racism, resolve conflict and make sure the school is a ‘Burngreave community school’. Halwo was nominated by the school, where she is a governor, and the Somali study support project where she is a regular volunteer.

Gwen Askham-Clark moved to Carwood estate from a tiny house on Rushby Street with no bath and no hot water in the 1970s. Six years ago, Carwood had become run down but Gwen developed her confidence through involvement in the opportunities New Deal provided such as bulb planting and tenants association activity.

Rob Smith needs no introduction to Messenger readers, but the Panel wanted to honour his contribution over the last seven years as a writer and reporter. Rob hasn’t always agreed with everything the Council has done in Burngreave; and Council staff have occasionally been frustrated with his take on things. But undeniably, Rob has brought to public attention people and issues that no one else seemed bothered about. Let’s hope Rob returns to a paid role soon.

oung people

The full list of the Area Panel New Year’s Honours awards go to:

Inderjit Bhogal

• Inter-faith collaboration

Grace Vincent

• New Roots café/Burngreave Ashram

Gwen Askham-Clark

• Carwood estate

Halwo Hassan

• Somali parents and Parkwood School

Winifred Bentley

• Abbeyfield Park bowling green

Gladys Newbolt

• Wensley estate

Tony Hall

• New Deal partnership board

Burngreave Young People’s Group

186th Rainbows; Brownies; Guides

Friends of Osgathorpe Park

Basharat Hussain

• Kashmir Curry House

Tim Shortland

• Burngreave Forester

Christine Grainger

• Firshill School

Jackie Edley

• Whiteways School

Abtisam Mohammed

• Yemeni women

Diane Haimeed

• Burngreave Study Support

Amin Kassim

• Somali/Yemeni young people