Awards for those who have gone above and beyond
PEMBREY and Burry Port Rotary Club has launched this year’s Peter Rees Community Awards.
The awards honour Llanelli Scarlets rugby hero Peter Rees, one of the club’s founder members who was also the oldest Welsh rugby international at the time of his death.
Peter, who died at the age of 95, was one of a group of businessmen in the area who set up what was then called Cefn Sidan Rotary Club almost 50 years ago.
Peter was president of the Rotary Club and an active supporter of local community and international projects.
Roy Schuster, the current Pembrey and Burry Port Rotary president, said: “These annual awards are a fitting tribute to a man who did so much for Rotary and local communities, and we are delighted to continue his memory in this way.”
The inaugural Peter Rees Above and Beyond Community Awards will take place this spring.
The main aim of the awards is to recognise individuals, charities, clubs, shops and other service organisations which have gone above and beyond to help others.
Mr Schuster said: “We do not want to make this a complicated process and the criteria and categories will be flexible to ensure we consider every worthy cause. The awards panel will comprise Rotarians and well-known and respected people from within the community.”
The communities covered by the awards are Pembrey, Burry Port, Kidwelly, Ferryside, Cross Hands and all villages in the Gwendraeth Valley.
The 2022 award nominations will close on February 28, with the award event scheduled in June.
Mr Schuster said: “This the second time that Rotary has made these type of awards and it is so appropriate that they will perpetuate the memory of such a great man. The first awards were very well received when 10 worth recipients were chosen.
“Following a very difficult year for many, I feel sure that there will be many nominations received this year to recognise people and organisations who have gone ‘Above and Beyond’.”
In the first instance, and as soon as possible, proposers are asked to contact Peter Hamilton by emailing rotaryhamilton1@gmail.com or telephoning 0773 336 8172.
The winners of the previous awards were:
■ Burry Port Rugby Club;
■ Cath Goddard, Carway;
■ Simon Justice, Llansaint;
■ E&M Motors, Kidwelly;
■ Anne Gilley, Kidwelly;
■ Pembrey and Burry Port Food Bank;
■ Burry Port councillor Amanda Fox ;
■ Castle News, Kidwelly;
■ Burry Port Co-op;
■ McColls, Trimsaran.