Community Pride 2006
Community Vibrancy Awards
We won 2nd place in all Cheshire!
The Cheshire Community Pride Competition co-ordinated by Cheshire County Council provides all communities across the sub region of Cheshire Warrington and Halton the opportunity to celebrate the valued work of community volunteers in making Cheshire a better place to live and work. The Community Pride Competition was formerly known as the Best Kept village Competition was initiated with the aim of developing and highlighting a sense of pride amongst local people throughout Cheshire.
Cllrs. Jenny Holmes and George Littler receive the certificate and award cheque on behalf of the villages.
Since its conception in 1957 the Competition has been expanded from the initial focus on the amount of care that residents gave to their village and local areas to encompass key themes that increase sustainability and improve the quality of life for residents. This diversification was accompanied by a change of name from The Best Kept Village to the Community Pride Competition.
The award categories include :
- Best Kept Village
- Community Vibrancy
- Cheshire Countryside and Wildlife Award Community Safety Award
- Community Project Award
The Parish Council entered the Best Kept Village and Vibrancy elements of the Competition as a combined entry of Ollerton with Marthall..
Following the initial written submission where detailed questions were required to be answered to outline the villages their facilities and how the facilities were used to the benefit of the Community we received notification that we had been short listed in the Community Pride Element of the competition and a Panel of Judges would like to visit and discuss in more detail the information provided in the initial entry submission.
This duly took place in the Village Hall where the judges interviewed a panel of people representing the interests across the age groups and organisations in the village and how the facilities in the village e.g:- The Church, Village Hall, Moss Wood Nature Reserve and local businesses . were used to the best advantage for the community. 
Everyone in attendance made a tremendous contribution to the meeting and clearly the judging panel to the extent that in due course we received notification that Ollerton with Marshall had been awarded second place to Antrobus in the 2006 Competition, along with an invitation to attend the awards ceremony at Tatton Park at the end of September.
Unfortunately Alan Street as Chairman of the Parish Council could not attend due to prior commitments and therefore Jenny Holmes and myself as having responsibilities for the Competition on behalf of the Parish Council had the pleasure of receiving the award of a Certificate and a cheque for £150 donated by Shell UK . It was a proud moment for both of us to have Ollerton and Marthall recognised in this way in front of 300 plus representatives from across Cheshire .
Following the excitement of the evening it gives time to reflect on how fortunate we all are to live in Ollerton and Marthall and to be able contribute to the vibrancy of the two villages.
Clr George Littler / Clr Jenny Holmes |
