Benarty Community Council were warmly welcomed to the weekly meeting of the Benarty Events Group’s Friday Companions Club at Benarty Centre where we held the annual award of the Ann McCallum Citizen of the Year Trophy and the Benarty Young Citizen of the Year awards. Joining us this year were family members of the late Ann McCallum who the trophy is named after. Ann’s son Alex gave a short presentation telling everyone the story of how Ann along with her close friend Betty Martin campaigned during the 1980’s to ban the sale of chewing tobacco from local shops, eventually taking the fight to the Houses of Parliament and succeeding in having the products banned from sale in the UK. At that time, these tobacco products were being bought by children, causing serious mouth ulcers and cancers. The efforts of Ann and Betty are remembered every year in Benarty when we award these prizes and their legacy will live on as we say thank you to those who have done so much hard work in the Benarty community.
Our first order of business was the Young Benarty Citizen of the Year awards and this year Benarty Community Council had the impossible task of deciding between two very worthy finalists. In the end, the Councillors decided to give this year’s award to both finalists, making them joint winners. Presenting the awards was Alex McCallum, and the 2021 Benarty Young Citizens of the Year were Maci Fotheringham and Elliot Marshall.
First up to receive her award was Maci Fotheringham from Lochore. Maci is very well known and appreciated for her years of hard work at fundraising events in the Benarty Community, at the annual Splash for Cash at Lochore Meadows and prior to that, the Spooky Walk events as well as helping out at the Benarty Gala. Through lockdown, Maci inspired the community with her rainbow posters and raised spirits across the villages and beyond, posting her updates and photos on Facebook. Maci thanked everyone who nominated her for the award and received a well deserved round of applause.
Joining Maci as Benarty Young Citizen of the Year was Elliot Marshall from Glencraig. Elliot is a young man with severe challenges in his life and the members of Benarty Community Council unanimously agreed that the bravery and courage shown by Elliot in the face of such adversity should be recognized. Elliot was joined by his Father, Tam and in receiving his award, Tam thanked everyone for Elliot’s nomination in recognition of his bravery. Tam and Elliot are currently campaigning for advances in medical prescriptions to help Elliot and others with similar conditions and again, the hall gave generous applause in admiration of Elliot.
Next to the floor were our two finalists for the Ann McCallum Trophy, Nicola Slater from Ballingry and Lochore man Derek Davidson. Nikki is known for her hard work and relentless efforts in making sure no child in our area goes without parcels at Christmas time and each year, Nikki transforms into Santa Benarty working long into the nights and early hours of the mornings wrapping parcels gathered locally and from Forth 1 and Kingdom FM. It’s a huge undertaking each year, done on a very short timescale and somehow, Nikki and her Elves get it done. Derek is known for his huge body of work in creating the Fairy Wood at Lochore Meadows Country Park which gave so many families great joy through the darkest days of the pandemic when outdoor activities were needed most. The small wood leading from the Willie Clarke Visitor Centre now boasts a special entrance with impressive wood carvings, toadstools, a wishing well and donation point, and dozens of hand painted bird boxes and fairy doors which Derek gifts to the children of the community before gathering them all in and varnishing them all before carefully placing them throughout the Fairy Wood. The area has become a real asset to the park bringing families in from Benarty and across Fife.
In deliberating, Benarty Community Council were faced with another impossible task of separating these two fantastic nominees. Councillors noted that due to the pandemic we had missed a year of awards and faced with the huge dilemma, decided to award the 2020 Benarty Citizen of the Year to Derek Davidson and the 2021 award to Nikki Slater.
Receiving the Trophy, Derek thanked everyone for his nomination, and modestly informed everyone that although he does the organising at the Fairy Wood, there are a huge number of volunteers who come and help with the hard work and Derek thanked everyone who contributes. Derek received a loud round of applause from the hall. Receiving her award, Nikki Slater was also quick to point out that there are a great number of people in the community who turn out to help with the huge task and Nikki thanked them all, explaining that the driving force is the thought of local kids going without presents at Christmas and knowing that the Santa Benarty team puts so many smiles on kids faces on Christmas Day which makes all the hard work worthwhile. Nikki was given a huge round of applause from everyone.
That concluded our award ceremony for this year and we look forward to 2023 when we will receive nominations for the next contenders for the Ann McCallum Trophy and the Benarty Young Citizen of the Year. Benarty Community Council would like to express our thanks to the Benarty Events Group for hosting this year’s awards, and to the staff of Benarty Centre for the extra work that meant for them. Liz never grumbles lol.
