Pelton Fell Community Partnership's longest serving volunteer was recognised again for her work with the community in the Brockwell Centre by being presented with the Chairman's Medal.
Durham County Council's Chairman, Councillor Mac Williams presented the award to Irene Gray on Friday 18th May at the Brockwell Centre. Councillor Williams said 'As I near the end of my term in office, I am delighted to be able to award the Chairman's Medals to someone who epitomises just why this award was first set up.'
Irene has lived in the village of Pelton Fell since she was 19, and has worked in various jobs in the local area including at the Co-op at Newfield and Richard Hardy’s garage.
After accessing the old village hall (now the Brockwell Centre), Irene soon realised that there wasn’t a great deal of provision for the young people in the village, and decided to start running her own youth club with the help of her daughter Amanda. Irene stopped running the club at 67 as she felt she was getting too old for it.
Irene didn’t have any preference as to whether she worked with Young people or Elderly people which led her to start working as a volunteer in the Brockwell Centre every day helping out wherever she could.
As the only church in the village had been demolished, Irene helped to set up a church service in the Brockwell Centre every Friday which is attended on average by 25 people weekly.
Irene also set up the Older persons forum which meet every Tuesday for Lunch (made by Irene) a chat, and a game of bingo. The forum is an essential group in the Brockwell centre, helping older people who don’t get out very often to socialise, meet new friends, and have a healthy lunch.
Irene is an integral part of the Brockwell Centre’s smooth daily running, she helps with everything which is happening and is friendly and very knowledgeable about the local area.
On Behalf of the Board of Directors, Staff and Volunteers - well done Irene, you thoroughly deserve it!
As at November 2017, Irene is still continuing to attend and work at the Centre to maintain these activities
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