Wetherby Townsperson of the Year - 2024
The 2024 winner is Kazia Knight
Last year's Townspersons Julie Anne Star, Town Mayor Dawn Payne and Lion President Martin Doxey were given an impossible task when presented with the shortlist of this year's nominees for 'Townsperson of the Year 2024'. Wetherby should be justifiably very proud of having so many public spirited residents !
This year's Townsperson of the Year is Kazia Knight.
She said " I have been Chair of Friends of Sandringham Park for 14 years now.
From its beginnings of anti social behaviour and lack of plants etc we decided to act to improve our environment and reduce the behaviour by working with the youth.
Since then we have won 13 Green Flag awards, 3 Yorkshire in Bloom platinum awards and 3 outstanding swards, plus gold awards , bee friendly awards and many others.
It’s currently undergoing consultation to improve all the facilities and make it more accessible ,green friendly space.
But, it’s a whole team working alongside other organisations in the town to bring these results year in, year out.
If you are interested in joining us please message me on our Facebook page Friends of Sandringham Park.
The Wetherby Wombles were formed 2 years ago, during COVID times. I used to go out on my daily hour walk, and the more I walked, the more I used to spot the litter. And there was a lot!
Many will have seen me, in and around Wetherby with a purple bag and a litter picker, doing my bit for the community. The total number of bags of litter collected this year, so far, is an astonishing 526 bags containing a staggering number of face masks, 980!
Only yesterday did I go out on a litter pick, a stone's throw from my home, and in just over an hour, I filled 2 bags and picked up 11 masks.
I'd like to accept this award, on behalf of all of the Wetherby Wombles and all of the other volunteers who give service, and who go out regularly to pick up litter from in and around our town, to make Wetherby a much cleaner and more attractive place for us all. Thank you."
We now need your nominations for 2025 ! ! We would like to hear about an exceptional adult in our community who has helped make Wetherby a better place for all of us. You can complete and submit your nominee application in several ways, do it online - click here , print the nomination form here and post
Photos of the winner of the award, Julie Ann Starr at the 'Dickensian Christmas Market' below.
Thanks to Tammy at 'Zoom-in Photography' on 0784 255 5484 for the photos.
