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Warwick Lovegrove with award-winner Kevin Laing

OUTGOING mayor Warwick Lovegrove rounded off his year in office by presenting awards to exceptional people and organisations.

He handed out four Mayors' Awards at the annual meeting of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, including two to people working in the Tadley area.

Mr Lovegrove represented Tadley on the council until the May 1 election.

The first award went to Maureen Elkins who, over the last 30 years, has been organising lunches for up to 50 older people from Tadley and the surrounding district.

Next, Penny Waterfield was honoured, both for services since 1985 as a governor at Burnham Copse School, in Tadley, and to the wider community.

Mr Lovegrove said she had chaired the governors through "challenging times at the school".

The third award was presented to Kevin Laing for his service to developing sport in the borough.

Mr Lovegrove said his work as chairman of Basingstoke and Deane Local Sports Council had created close links with schools and Basingstoke's twin towns, Alençon, in France, and Euskirchen, in Germany.

"His commitment and hard work has helped to create lasting friendships between Basingstoke and Deane and the twin towns," said Mr Lovegrove.

Mr Laing, who leads the team that organises the Basingstoke and Deane Sports Awards, said he was honoured to receive the award.

He said: "Having given out awards for the past 15 years, it's very nice to have someone recognise you and say thank you, but I would emphasise there are hundreds of people behind me."

The final accolade, the mayor's business award, went to Basingstoke-based De La Rue for their investment and improvements in production and development.

De La Rue, which has its head office in Jays Close, Viables, and employs about 1,200 people in the borough, including at its mill in Overton, prints millions of bank notes, provides cash-handling systems and makes secure documents.

Receiving the award for De La Rue, Louise Fluker, general counsel and company secretary, said: "I can confidently say you have all got a De La Rue product in your pocket!"

She added: "We are very proud to be part of Basingstoke."

9:13am Tuesday 13th May 2008

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