The inspirational achievements of residents were announced at an Annual Council meeting last week. 

On Monday, May 22, the Civic Awards 2023 winners were announced by the new Mayor of Welwyn Hatfield, Councillor Pankit Shah, and his predecessor Barbara Fitzsimon. 

This year the awards – now in their 17th year – were given in partnership with Urbaser, and the Young Person Award was sponsored by the University of Hertfordshire. 

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The winners were:

  • Justin Burgess - Civic Award - Justin was recognised for his outstanding contribution to the community and through the charity he created called JOCA (Just One Click Away).

Justin created JOCA to tackle the rising cases of depression in the UK.

  • Rhianna Russell - Civic Award - representing Welwyn and District Bowls Club and England, Rhianna Russell was recognised for her outstanding success achieved.

In 2022, Rhianna reached the national finals at Leamington Spa, the home of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

She helped club members reach the quarter finals and went on to be crowned Ladies National Two Bowl Singles Champion 2022.

  • Michael Nash - Civic Award - Michael Nash received the award for the work he has undertaken over 65 years for different football clubs in the Welwyn Hatfield borough as a player and a referee.
  • Sarah Marsh - Environmental Award presented by Urbaser - Sarah was recognised for the work she has undertaken with the gardening and planting design of Danesbury Fernery.

The fernery has benefitted from Sarah’s expert horticultural knowledge to show off its wonderful heritage garden to full affect and enable the fernery to open under the National Garden Scheme later this year.

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  • Julide Hasan - Young Person Award - Presented by the University of Hertfordshire, Julide was recognised for her contribution to the University of Hertfordshire Law School.

Alongside studying for her law degree, Julide volunteers in the Hertfordshire Law Clinic that enables members of the public to obtain one-off legal advice in a range of areas.

The winners each received a crystal engraved trophy, a certificate, a cheque for £250 and a place in the Civic Awards Roll of Honour, recording their achievement for posterity.