Anne Jones
Photo shows Anne’s son receiving the award on her behalf.
The Committee members of the Meltham Gardner’s Society, founded in 1940 nominated Anne for this award. Anne has been the Secretary and Treasurer of the Society for over 47 years. She has been the mainstay of the Society working with a Committee whose average age now exceeds 80 years.
Her importance to the Society was made even more evident last year as ill health meant that the Society had to cancel the Autumn Show as the remaining Committee members were unable to manage the organisation and administration of the event.
Meltham Gardener’s Society was founded by Meltham Urban District Council in the early part of World War 2 as part of the ‘Dig for Victory’ campaign, supplying garden seeds and general horticultural supplies to members at cost and running 2 shows a year which were open to paying members. The Council were active in the running of the Society until the early 1990s when the shows were opened to all exhibitors and the supply of seed and garden supplies ended.
Sadly, the Society is now in a perilous position as they have been unable to attract younger people on to the Committee despite numerous attempts. Many of the Committee members would have retired many years ago without the support of Anne and her family/friends. It is a great pity that this lack of younger supporters will mean that this longstanding Society will have to fold and deprive the many exhibitors of the opportunity to show their produce and gardening skills and loose a piece of Meltham’s history.
Anne has been a ‘Melthamer’ for 78 years and has given a huge amount of her time to the Society. Meltham Town Council are delighted to recognise her contribution by presenting her with this award.
Anthony (Tony) Clarke
Tony was nominated for his 60 years of service to the Melham and Meltham Mills Band. Tony came to the Band in 1958 to play the Flugel Horn position but he never got to play in that position as someone else was given it- so he stayed and played cornet instead!
Since then Tony has played every instrument in the band apart from flugel and trombone.
Tony served in the military police and we understand that this is where his detail to smartness comes from – however on one occasion when performing in Austria- Tony diligently reminded all the band members the night before the performance of the importance of making sure all uniforms were pressed and their black shoes polished. At the performance the next day there were 26 pairs of beautifully polished black shoes and one pair of brown shoes – Tony had forgotten his!. Tony recalls trying to play with his feet hidden underneath the chair.
On another occasion the band were competing in Harrogate and staying in a hotel. Tony and colleagues were in the hotel bar which I’m told is not unusual after a contest – when in the early hours the fire alarm went off. Everyone was waiting outside the hotel for instructions when someone asked Tony where Molly his wife was – apparently his face was a picture as he had left her in bed – but luckily it was a false alarm.
Tony has been a band committee member for well over 40 years. He has served as chairman, vice chairman, secretary, librarian and junior band MD. Meltham Town Council are delighted to recognise this long standing dedication to the band by presenting Tony with a Pride of Meltham award.
Eleanor Turner
Eleanor was born in Leeds and started her nursing and midwifery training there in 1972.
She became Meltham’s first Practice Nurse back in 1989. Her duties spanned many areas such as screenings and chronic disease management, including heart disease, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Asthma. Eleanor also ran a minor illness clinic.
Over her 27 years Eleanor has treated numerous Meltham residents and given hundreds of immunisations (injections) to babies and young children in the area. One doctor reports tales of toddlers running away from Eleanor down the aisles of Morrisons after the Friday morning baby clinic.
Since retiring Eleanor is enjoying trips away in her caravan with her husband David and of course Wilson the dog. Eleanor is also enjoying spending time with her 4 year old grandson who also lives in Meltham.
Meltham Town Council are delighted to recognise Eleanor’s long service to the Meltham community by presenting her with this award.
