On Thursday 9th January 2025, at the Mayor’s Reception, Councillor Mike Smith, Mayor of Earley, presented the Service to Earley Awards 2024.
The Service to Earley Award 2024 was presented to Liz Kerry for her various work around Earley including encouraging bee streets, community gardening at St Nicolas Church and helping with the memory café. In 2024, Liz was also responsible for coordinating the “Earley One Square at a Time 2024” community artwork.
Liz Kerry (Service to Earley Award Winner 2024) and Councillor Mike Smith (Mayor of Earley)
Speaking after the awards, Liz said: “It is wonderful to be given the Service to Earley Award and honoured by Earley Town Council for the various groups and activities I take part in in the area…I was responsible for originating this 100-piece patchwork quilt art installation, but the whole was created by many individuals who wanted to tell their own story about being part of Earley. It was created by people who did not know each other, but by accident found they were neighbours both in reality, and on the patchwork. The quilt is a visual description of the nature of community with surprising connections between the stories and many layers of meanings. In accepting this award I want to thank all those who joined in and did so much work.”
‘Earley One Square at a Time 2024’ was on display during the Mayor’s Reception and can now be seen in the Community Centre in St Nicolas.
Liz Kerry and Councillor Mike Smith featuring ‘Earley One Square at a Time 2024’
This year, in a first for the Town Council, a Special Recognition Award was presented to Fraser, a Pets as Therapy dog, for the important work he carries out visiting residents at Austen House Care Home. Fraser’s weekly visits provide companionship, comfort, emotional support and sensory stimulation for residents, especially those living with dementia.
Fraser (Special Recognition Award Winner 2024)
Fraser was nominated by Sarah, the daughter of a former resident of Austen House, who said “Fraser is an unsung hero and I feel so strongly that the support he gave to Dad, and continues to give to all, should be recognised”
David Hare, Fraser’s human, delivered a humorous speech on Fraser’s behalf, stating that despite Fraser’s initial disappointment that he was not in fact receiving a knighthood nor becoming a Freeman of Earley, Fraser was honoured to accept the award on behalf of all Pet Therapy dogs who give pleasure and support to so many. He continued, “I hope it’s true for all my colleagues that we do this because we enjoy it. I enjoy people making a fuss of me, the treats Daddy brings, the biscuits and other morsels that sometimes come my way, but most of all I just enjoy making people happy, if I can lift people’s spirit, then that is wonderful.”
Arturas Repkovas (General Manager of Austen House), David Hare and Nicola Brock (Fraser’s humans), Sarah (nominator) and Mike Smith (Mayor of Earley)
The Service to Earley Awards is an annual award, made by the Town Council, to honour an individual who has made a significant and long-standing voluntary contribution to Earley.