00:00We're going to kick off the wards tonight with the Community Hero and our winner has dedicated
00:07so much of her life to serve in our community. Before retiring she worked at District Council
00:14supporting local communities and later became a town councillor herself. Even after stepping
00:21down from the council around five years ago she's never stopped giving back. During the COVID-19
00:28pandemic she was instrumental in setting up Libney's Community Emergency Group, rallying
00:34volunteers to help those who are isolated or unwell. Through her tireless efforts and determination
00:42she helped organise food and medicine deliveries, offering vital support to some of the most
00:48vulnerable in our town when they needed it most. Our winner has also been a passionate
00:54supporter of Cancer Research UK, Forest of Dean Relay for Life, both behind the scenes
01:01and as a chair for several years. Her commitment to fundraising and supporting charitable causes
01:08has had a lasting impact on many lives. More recently our winner has faced her own personal
01:15challenges but true to her generous spirit she hasn't let it slow her down and is now raising
01:22funds and awareness for Parkinson UK, continuing to turn her own experiences into strength for
01:30many others. Our winner has been described as selfless and an inspiration to those who know her
01:36and offer compassion, guidance and kindness and support to others. She might not seek the spotlight
01:43but she absolutely deserves to be a local hero in every sense. So I'd like to call Matt Bishop up please
01:51to open the envelope. So our Community Hero Award sponsored by Ruth Cure 247 is
02:06Tess Tremlett
02:16whoo
02:19Actually, those who do know me, I've never stuck on words, but I am today.
02:49Thank you very much. I can't believe it. I have loved working with communities. It's been my absolute pleasure.
02:59Fundraising has always been on the agenda, but more so about communities and how they work, because they are the key to so much of life and how I should be.
03:16A strong community, a cohesive community is a community that's rich in so many ways, and I thank you for this.
03:23I'm sure everyone in this room is a winner, but tonight I greatly receive this. Thank you very much.
