Alison Winfield spent years volunteering with the Friends of Conway Rec before she died of cancer

Winners of the 2023 Enfield Lifetime Achievement and Special Recognition Awards including Alison Winfield (inset) who died of cancer in October

A late Southgate resident who “worked tirelessly to protect and improve our local environment” won a posthumous award alongside dozens of other volunteers celebrated by Enfield Council.

Alison Winfield, who died in October 2022 from pancreatic cancer aged 61, was a longtime volunteer with Friends of Conway Rec. Her husband Jeremy picked up Alison’s award on her behalf last month in a ceremony at Enfield Civic Centre, where the council held its second-ever Lifetime Achievement and Special Recognition Volunteer Awards.

Keith Weller, who worked with Alison as part of the Friends of Conway Rec voluntary group, said: “Alison loved nature and worked tirelessly to protect and improve our local environment.

“She was the staunchest of volunteers […] she would turn out for every workday, whatever the weather, get stuck into the jobs that needed doing and offer biscuits and chocolates to all the workers during coffee breaks.

“She kept chickens and would regularly bring boxes of eggs for purchase – any money received being donated to the friends’ account. Alison also served on the friends’ committee and used her design skills to create artworks to sell at events in support of the friends’ work.

“She built a small nesting island in the pond, bravely donned waders to prune bulrushes and remove sludge, designed Christmas cards and filled attractive packets with food for the waterbirds. Her energy and ideas were limitless and she was admired and loved by all who knew her.”

A total of 39 Enfield volunteers were recognised by the council at its awards ceremony, the second to be held after the programme was launched in late 2021 “to recognise and to celebrate volunteering effort and commitment”.

The awards are for those who have shown “exceptional long service, who go above and beyond normal expectations in their volunteering role and who may have taken on one or more special initiatives to help others”.

The winners were chosen from nominations made by residents, voluntary organisations and community groups.

Gina Needs, the council’s cabinet member for community safety and cohesion, presented certificates and medals to the volunteers to recognise their outstanding service to Enfield at a ceremony on 21st February.

Cllr Needs said: “It was an honour to be invited to such a great event and to present volunteering awards to such deserving members of our local community, who have made such a difference to residents’ lives and improving the environment.

“Everyone who received an award should be proud of their achievements. I’d like to say a big thank you to everyone who gives up their time to help others in need.”

It is estimated that around 100,000 people in Enfield volunteer on a regular basis, from litter-picking to helping in local libraries. Enfield Voluntary Action works closely with the council to help people and community groups access the knowledge, skills and resources to make a real impact in the borough.

For more information and to sign up for volunteering via Enfield Voluntary Action:
Visit https://enfieldva.org.uk/volunteering-in-enfield

Award winners

Posthumous Lifetime Achievement Volunteer Award:
Alison Winfield

Lifetime Achievement Volunteer Award:
Abdool Rashid Moedine, Abdulhamid Tumi, Alan Rushbrook, Andy Higgins, Andy Whiting, Angela Rushbrook, Colin Fredericks, Derek Cutts, Gaynor Jipps, Howard White, Mrs Irene Wilson, Jo-Ann Brown, Kanwal Arshad Shaikh, Kausar Shaikh, Margaret Leighton, Mohammad Luqueman Hussain, Mohammad Taqwim Ul Haq, Mr Champaklal Mistry, Mr Vijay Sujan, Pamela Gorrie, Peter Cowley, Peter Godfrey, Peter Smith, Rahat Hadi, Robin Ward, Roger Hallam, Shahida Adam Nizami, Shappir Alim, Talat Shaikh, Tasnim Choudhry, Yoonoos Edoo, Zainab Hossenally

Special Recognition Volunteer Award:
Arthur Hasler, Chris Norman, Neslihan Omur, Nicola Morgan, Rosalind Brain, Vivien Jani

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