Perthshire town’s residents to share top citizen award after their role in battling Covid

The Pitlochry Citizen of the Year award has been presented to the whole town to recognise each resident’s role in tackling Covid-19. Awarded by the Rotary Club of Pitlochry, it is usually given to an individual. But this year organisers decided to present the trophy to the whole community for its joint efforts to tackle and lower the spread of coronavirus. Iain McEwan of the Rotary club said the pandemic meant the decision process changed this year. “The past year has been so different from previous years that the usual criteria for choosing our citizen of the year are not appropriate,” he said. “So many people have done so much to get us through the pandemic that the only answer is to give the award to the community of Pitlochry.” Nominations for the award are submitted by members of the community. One said all the people of Pitlochry deserve the award, a suggestion which delighted the club. Mr McEwan said: “Every year we ask the local community through the local magazines to nominate candidates for the award and our club council chooses from the nominations. “This year we were particularly impressed by a nomination suggesting that so many people had done so much that it would be invidious to select just one individual, hence the decision to give the award to the whole community. “Like many other places the Covid-19 pandemic brought out the best in our local citizens. “It really says it all.” Pitlochry residents were praised by the club for using their initiative to fight Covid-19. staff, and delivery drivers. Anyone nominated for the award should live in the area of Pitlochry, Blair Atholl and Ballinluig, and play an important part in community life. Previous winners include Judith Dingwall, Lesley Whitwood and Margaret “Meg” Farron.

SACRIFICES: Rotary club president Neil Panton and community convener Dougal Spaven with the Citizen of the Year trophy.