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Fred the People's Champion Wins Award
Community champion Fred Learmonth of Gorleston received an award this week to mark his crusade against anti-social behavior. Fred received the Community award at the Norfolk Waste Management Partnership's Annual Awards from Norfolk County Council Chairman Patrick Hacon.
“Fred focuses on making the area he lives in a better place by working with his neighbours to prevent things like anti-social behavior,” said Great Yarmouth Borough Council’s Environmental Policy Manager Mark Smith.
“He has led a number of innovative schemes, which have helped to engender a culture of active community participation and civic pride from an impressive number of dedicated volunteers.
“For example, when the Council offered residents the chance to clear waste and tidy up the area Fred had been out and leafleted everyone, as we discovered when we started handing out our leaflets - and were told Fred had beaten us to it.
"Fred is well known throughout the community and respected for his achievements. He has made a real difference. He, and his army of dedicated volunteers, have been invaluable in a number of enforcement cases, which have resulted in a step change in community behaviour with regard to their local environment.”
For two years running, Fred has been nominated for and won the National Home Office 'Taking a Stand Award' for his outstanding contribution to reducing anti-social behaviour in his, and other neighbourhoods. Despite his deteriorating health, his invaluable efforts have fostered civic pride amongst all groups he is involved with.
The Leader of Great Yarmouth Borough Council Barry Coleman is also Chairman of Norfolk Waste Management Partnership and host for the awards ceremony.
“It was a real pleasure to give Fred the award,” said Councillor Coleman. “We need more people like him who get involved and bring the community together.
“He has achieved a great deal and helped bring the community together.”
As for Fred he wanted to underline the good partnership working between the community and the Borough Council.
“It is nice to receive an award and be recognised,” he said. “But if it wasn’t for the help of other people like the Council and my neighbours we wouldn’t have achieved so much.”
In the nomination for the award written by Mark Smith the closing remark was:
‘Every Neighbourhood should have a Fred!’.
The Norfolk Waste Management Partnership's Annual Awards were held at the Archive Centre, County Hal, Norwich on Monday January 29.
Norfolk Waste Management Partnership was formed in 1996 to bring together Norfolk County Council and the seven Norfolk district councils. It’s aim is to reduce waste to landfill and encourage residents to play their part. For further information go to www.norfolk.gov.uk/.
For further information contact Environmental Policy Manager Mark Smith on 01493 846681 or e-mail mis@great-yarmouth.gov.uk.
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