Southend celebrates 20 years of Citizen Awards honouring bravery

Summarised from Echo (Basildon)'s report · Updated 14 Oct, 07:57 · Archive

Southend's Citizen Awards celebrated their 20th anniversary by recognising acts of bravery, kindness and decades of volunteering.

The Citizen of Southend Awards marked its 20th anniversary by recognising people who have shown bravery, kindness and dedication across the city. The ceremony, organised and funded by the Stockvale Group, took place at Porters Civic House and the mayor's Parlour.

Five men received Hero Awards following a dramatic rescue at the Three Shells Lagoon, where a mother and daughter became trapped in wet sand. Adventure Island staff Lee Jones, Tim Sykes, Mitch Francis and Will Canning joined member of the public Adrian Pikula in using ropes to pull the pair to safety. Echo reporter Emma Palmer also received a Hero Award after donating a kidney to young Maya Soleki after initially being asked to cover the search for a donor as a news story. Palmer said: 'I have given Maya my kidney, but what Maya has given me through her friendship is so much more.'

Other winners included Denise Rossiter, who received the inaugural Philip Miller MBE Award, and David Goddard, who received the Gold Award after volunteering with the Scout Association every week since he was 16, amounting to 60 years of service.

Read the report

• Unsung heroes recognised as Citizen of Southend Awards celebrate 20 yearsA dramatic seafront rescue, a life-changing kidney donation and decades of volunteering have been celebrated as Southend's unsung heroes received special awardsEcho (Basildon) · 14 Oct, 04:00

In this story: Southend · Echo · Stockvale Group · Emma Palmer · Maya Soleki · David Goddard · Denise Rossiter

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