Tommy Takes Lifetime Achievement Award
Lifelong Horticulture Winner and First Aider Receives Society’s High Honour
Wooler horticulture enthusiast, lifelong gardener and Red Cross stalwart, Tommy Swan, has been presented with Glendale’s highest honour – The 2018 Glendale Agricultural Society Lifetime Achievement Award.
The award is made by The Glendale Agricultural Society (GAS), supported by the Glendale Gateway Trust, and is in recognition of Tommy’s outstanding contribution the Horticultural Show, which takes place every year as part of the Glendale Show. It also acknowledges his membership of the Red Cross and his role as a First Aider in earlier days.
The Lifetime Achievement Award was specifically introduced in 2017, and Tommy is Glendale’s 2nd winner, which was presented last year to Susan Burston, and posthumously, to Chris Leyland MBE.
Tommy was presented with the award at the Glendale Show, in recognition of the outstanding contrition to the Horticultural Society and Glendale since he first started showing vegetables 70 years ago, in 1948.
The annual Glendale Agricultural Society Lifetime Achievement Award is intended to give recognition to someone who is judged to have made long-standing contribution to Glendale and its largely rural community. The nominations were reviewed by a team of judges including representatives from both GAS and the Trust, and in presenting the award judge Patrick Sheard, Chairman of The Glendale Gateway Trust said:
“We would all like to thank Tommy for his massive contribution to the displays of vegetable and flowers that he has unfailingly contributed over the years. These are testimony to his skill and dedication and have given much pleasure to show goers who have admired them, and the prizes they have won. It is an absolute pleasure to present him with the 2018 Glendale Agricultural Society Lifetime Achievement Award.
All the nominations we have received over the last two years have been worthy winners of the award, which is testimony to the service so many give to their community of Glendale.”
Now 93, and a lifelong Glendale resident from Wooler, Tommy was first encouraged to enter his home-grown shallots by a neighbour. His interest flourished, like the things he grew, and he went on the exhibit across the region. He was much in demand as a judge himself, and was never happier than when presenting prizes to others for their work. Latterly, failing health has restricted his entries, but his interest and support has remained undiminished. Tommy’s nomination was proposed by a past president of the North Yorkshire County Show – an indication of the high regard he is held in throughout the North East. He adds. “Tommy is most modest man who never took anything for granted and was always ready and willing to help others.”
On receiving his Lifetime Achievement Award, Tommy said: “I have been involved with Glendale Show since 1940, and I am absolutely delighted to receive this award today.”
The award consists of a unique trophy and £50. The trophy is a sculpture by local artist Paul Greenwood and is a carving on local Doddington Stone, reminiscent of the cup and ring marked rocks that are almost literally one of Glendale’s hallmarks. To these are added the names of the annual winners of the award.
In recognition of the service all have given, all nominations received are carried forward to the next year – 2019, when the judges meet again to consider these and any fresh nominations that are received.
