Kind-hearted litter picking brothers honoured in Malmesbury

Ben and Josh Thornbury won young citizen and junior citizen of the year respectively at the town's Citizen of the Year Awards last week. 

For Ben, 16, it was the third year in a row he had won, after twice picking up the junior award claimed this time by Josh, 13.

Ben's journey started back in 2016 when, along with neighbour Julie Taylor, he cut an overgrown hedge and received a comment from a wheelchair user saying it had really helped them as they did not have to go on the road anymore.

"From there we continued to clean different areas, litter pick, paint and do all sorts around the town," said Ben.

"We have been lucky enough to receive lots of support from different organisations who have given us grant funding which has meant we could continue to grow.

"In the last year my brother has continued to care for the Co-op wall, this was keeping on top of the weeding. 

"We received some lovely feedback about how nice the daffodils looked, planted apple trees for the Queen’s Jubilee kindly paid for by the James Dyson Foundation, and painted a picnic bench which we hope can be donated to a local care home.

"Josh is very helpful sorting the litter out into recyclables and non recyclables and does litter picking at the weekends with me.

"I’m very grateful for Josh because he is following in my footsteps and wants to help the community and keep it a nice place to live.

"I feel very honoured to receive the award again as I was not expecting to. And I would just like to also say thanks to the other various volunteers in the town who also clean up around town. 

"Many hands make light work and if we all play our part we can keep our local communities clean."

Ben and Josh were presented with their awards at Malmesbury Town Council's Annual Town Meeting on Thursday.

Ben and Josh Thornbury with their awards

Other winners on the night included citizen of the year Sharon Nolan, who beat nominees Margaret Lamb, Jackie Peel, Andy Pointer and Derek Tilney to the award.

Sharon Nolan accepts her Citizen of The Year awad

Sharon heads up the volunteers in Malmesbury’s Athelstan Museum and has been instrumental in bringing the JW Turner painting of Malmesbury Abbey to the museum and making the Malmesbury Coin Hoard available for public viewing.

Organisation of the year went to  Malmesbury Live Arts and Neil Muttock and Janet Sneddon accepted the award on behalf of the organisation. The Boxing Club, Parkinson’s Society, The Repair Café, Renew Malmesbury and The WI were also nominated and all do great things in the town.

Malmesbury Live Arts were named Organisation of the year

This year mayor Paul Smith introduced two new awards. The first was a Commendation Award presented by Mayoress Frances Smith to Malmesbury Parkinson’s Society for over 30 years of support to sufferers of this condition.

Malmesbury Parkinson’s Society were given a Commendation Award

The second was The Mayor's Lifetime Achievement Award for outstanding service to the community. This was presented by Paul Smith to Derek Tilney who has been involved in The Royal British Legion as chairman for over 50 years. He also organises the annual poppy appeal and then the Remembrance ceremony at the town gates.

Derek Tilney was given a Lifetime Achievement Award

Derek’s also been involved with Malmesbury Garden Club for many years. He organises its annual show and has played an active role in the River Valleys Trust.

He is also a stalwart supporter of Malmesbury Carnival usually helping to creating floats for others. Recently he bought 1,000 packs of sunflower seeds for Malmesbury Stands with Ukraine.

Derek was a very deserving winner of this award which recognises his exceptional contribution to Malmesbury over many years.