As the holiday season gets nearer, Dorking is gearing up for our incredible Very Dorkensian Christmas Festival that promises to light up the town with festive cheer!
And this year, the celebrations extend beyond just the twinkling lights, because we have our Community Spirit Awards. This initiative is aimed at shining a spotlight on the incredible businesses, individuals and volunteers making a real and recognisable difference in our beloved town.
Let’s take a look at our categories and our nominees:
High Street
Hero Contenders
The nominees in this category truly embody the helpful spirit of High Street community engagement and support:
Caroline Russell at Martha Russell/The Notebook: An unsung hero, growing her business ethically and sustainably while enriching the High Street.
David Driscoll at Seymours: Changing the perception of estate agents by actively supporting and contributing to the local community in numerous impactful ways.
Bullimores: A team that goes above and beyond, fostering connections beyond their business to uplift the local community. With a team composed of leaders like Nick Boot and Margaret Brett, Dorking businesses and its community are in great hands.
Rosemary at Beatitudes: A shop with a heart, focusing on the needs of the younger generation, especially those in greater need.
Dorking Butchery: Not just a provider of quality products but also a generous contributor to the wider community.
Sustainability Champion Contenders
This category acknowledges the champions of sustainability, those leading the charge for a greener, more conscious Dorking:
Anna Musgrave: Inspiring change within her school and broader community, shaping the future generation towards a more sustainable path.
Circular Dorking: An inspiration and a hub of information for those seeking to embrace a more sustainable lifestyle.
Tony White: Exemplifying sustainability through action, reducing waste, and collaborating extensively within the community, especially notable for setting up Community Fridges.
Pat Smith: Leading change and providing invaluable support for Dorking’s journey towards sustainability.
The Food Float: A beacon for locally produced food, delivered sustainably to local homes, championing the importance of locality and sustainability.
Volunteer of the Year Contenders
This category celebrates the selfless efforts of volunteers dedicated to making a difference in Dorking:
Margaret Brett: Margaret must surely be Dorking’s most prolific Volunteer! For the last five years she spends every Wednesday morning volunteering for the Deepdene trail, keeping our green spaces clean and tidy.
Sally Elias: From trying to save historical buildings for community use with CHiP, to the incredible work she does with Dorking Minds, Sally really embodies giving back, contributing and helping others.
Simon Edmands: Simon volunteers with an open heart and offers good advice and a smile. He offers to help and run many fundraising quizzes for Friends of Dorking, Dorking & District Town Twinning Association, PSDS, and offers support for Dorking Christmas Lights, MND and more.
Wendy Saunders: A tireless advocate for all things Dorking, passionately driving projects that promote business and environmental awareness.
Jacqui Hamlin: What a legend Jacqui Hamlin is. Every single year, Jacqui organises Pippfest. She does this, without fail, and inspires a massive team of grass roots volunteers and artists to create an incredible event for the community and for a good cause.
Pat Smith: Pat (Dorking Climate Emergency) tirelessly campaigns for a more sustainable future. She keeps everyone updated on what’s going on locally, what we should all be doing to lower our impact and she truly practices what she preaches. She never gives up, she attends every local event and promotes sustainability whenever there is an opportunity. She mobilises people to speak up and take action. She is an absolute inspiration.
The Community Spirit Awards are shining a spotlight on all these amazing local businesses and people, showcasing their efforts and inspiring others to join in building a stronger, more vibrant Dorking. Join us on 3rd December as the winners of the awards are announced on the main stage at 1pm and we all come together to celebrate and honour these remarkable contributors to our community!
Let’s light up Dorking with our community spirit this holiday season!
