I am delighted to recognise just some of the wonderful volunteers in the Scottish Borders who selflessly go above and beyond for our communities.
The dedication, hard work and commitment from volunteers is incredible. Their efforts keep many local services running and they provide amazing levels of support to make other people’s lives a little better.
I held this competition to pay tribute to the “unsung heroes” who play such a vital role in our local communities.
I want to thank everyone who nominated someone and congratulate the worthy winners. Each one of them is an inspiration and they deserve our utmost thanks and gratitude.
The competition received dozens of nominations for inspirational people who volunteer all over the Scottish Borders.
The winners, who received a plaque to recognise their contribution to local services, were:
- Madge Thomson from Hawick, who helps survivors of abuse for Borders Women’s Aid.
- Megan Bilsland from Galashiels, who does inspirational work with Downs Syndrome Scotland and Interest Link Borders, a charity helping people with learning disabilities.
- Alan Foster from Greenlaw, who volunteers for the local football club, darts team, bowling club and for Greenlaw Festival Week.
- Audrey Triebel from Kelso, who saved Little Explorers nursery from closure and continues to help entertain the children who attend.
- Graham Easton from Selkirk, who was an essential leader in the Selkirk Response Team during the pandemic, founded Cycling Without Age, and has been an unpaid volunteer over the years for the community council, Stable Life, the Selkirk Ex-Soldiers Association, the Royal British Legion, and Selkirk Rotary Club, where he was also president for a year.
