The Annual Monkton Arts Awards Night aims to celebrate the people who help and support the people in our community.
Fundraising for The Haven
To start off the evening we invited Charity Garnet to the stage to talk and raise awareness and much needed funds for a new community venture ‘The Haven’.
The Haven is guided by a group of local trustees who have worked together to secure the transfer of the six-acre field in St Helens into the care of the new charity. Their aim is to ensure the land can continue to benefit the community and to welcome others who would like to help shape its future.
Papa Owl and Little Owl Awards
Next we heard from local councillor Michael Lilley who introduced the Papa Owl Awards set up to remember his fathers achievements in engineering through honouring ordinary people who have done extra ordinary things.
This year he chose two winners for each category. Garry Field for his love and care above and beyond duty; and to Miranda Tizard for her self determination in turning her life around.
The little owl awards went to 3-year-old Teddy Brentnall- Beecroft for his deep empathy and thoughtfulness to life, fundraising, litter picking and compassion for animals. And to 6-year-old Oscar Capon for his strength and kindness in caring for his sister.
John Ackroyd Award for Young Engineer
Next we welcomed Meryl Boyd to present the John Ackroyd Award for Young Engineer. In its 5th year now the specially commissioned awards made by Chris Horne of Island composites was awarded to Isaac Hood.
CEECAM praised Isaac for his innovation, commitment, high quality and great attitude to his engineering course.
Monkton Arts awards
Each year Monkton Arts wants to celebrate the personalities and kindness we see and we give an award to acknowledge people from each of these three categories, Culture, Knowledge and Community as well as a ‘Monkton Award’ to show appreciation to someone who has helped us as a team keep Monkton going.
Knowledge Award
Our Award for Knowledge went the the very unsuspecting and modest Allan Cox for tolerating our unruly behaviour at the Quiz, where he is quiz master, he manages the Monkton Photography group and he runs the IT drop in, which he has also been doing for age UK for years, as well as hospital patient transporting. He organises social events and the lottery for a local social group and is a good friend.
Culture Award
Our Culture Award went to Jean Owen. In the three years since she founded Naked Figleaf Press she has encouraged and given opportunities to others through her own creativity and the cultural platforms she has created on the Island.
Not just through the cultural events she organises but how she collaborates with other cultural organisations and individual creatives. She has brought so many new writers and artists into her fig family with genuine interest and gentle critique.
Community Award
And our Community Award was an emotional speech celebrating Charity Garnet. She is an exceptional woman who is an NHS Nurse in A&E, a St Helens parish Councillor as well as a Youth trust councillor also offering Bereavement and Medical counseling Support; she has brought IW environmental groups together for One Island Vision, as well as many more community projects such as The Haven.
More than all this we wanted to recognise how she sees people and responds with honesty and encouragement and love. She makes people feel like anything is possible and whatever they are dealing with they will not be alone. Every community needs an angel like Charity.
Monkton Award
Lastly we surprised Pat and Phill Saunders, a lovely local couple we wanted to thank for their empathy and observation.
They have genuinely cared about how we as individuals are coping with the workload of running Monkton and without offering or saying anything have done many practical actions to help us out.
Thanks to supporters
We would like to thank all our Friends Of Monkton Arts Members for their continuing support and to everyone who comes to Monkton Arts to support us and keep us going as a none profit-making and unfunded arts centre.
News shared by Jenna on behalf of Monkton Arts. Ed
