Meet this year’s Citizens of the Year

The pair were revealed as winners at Sunday night’s gala awards ceremony at the Guy Nelson Hall, Warwick School, alongside 16-year-old Kyle Lekarla who was this year’s Young Citizen of the Year.

Organised by the Brakes Trust and supported by the Courier/Weekly News, the awards are to celebrate the unsung heroes of the community.

Barbara and Rosemary have given decades of unstinting support to the Friends of Royal Leamington Spa Rehab Hospital and its predecessors, raising tens of thousands of pounds and helping staff, patients and their families along the way.

Kyle was recognised for his work as a young carer for his brother and his eight-year involvement with the Warwickshire Young Carers’ Project, for which he raised nearly £1,000 this year.

Courier/KWN editor Chris Lillington said: “It was incredibly difficult to choose a winner as each of the nominees have an amazing story to tell and any one of them would have been a worthy recipient.”

And Peter Bowen from the Brakes Trust added: “The important message was that volunteers not only give their time willingly but are modest with it to the point where they find recognition embarrassing. There is no doubt in my mind that without their dedication and energy the community would be in danger of falling apart. We cannot value their contribution too highly.”

The evening’s entertainment included Jay Kays Dance Academy, young singer Amy Thomas, the Warwick School Jazz Combo and the Vocal Generation Community Choir while proceeds from the night will go to Warwickshire and Northants Air Ambulance and the Side By Side Theatre company.

BBC radio presenter Dave Sharpe was compere for the evening and guests included Warwick and Leamington MP Chris White who praised the fantastic work that volunteers carried out across Warwick district.

Nick Rogers, of the Brakes Trust, said: “My thanks go to all who helped make the awards and the evening a great success.”