We were very pleased that Stuart Smith has been awarded the top county volunteer of the year award this year by the Somerset Playing Fields' Association. The Cup was presented by Charlie Taylor, a BBC Somerset personality, at a packed awards ceremony on 4th October.
The citation stated that "Stuart has been an active member of the Woolavington Playing Fields’ Association and Woolavington Community Foundation Charitable Incorporated Organisation for several years and has recently been elected Chairman
He has assisted in the refurbishment of the pavilion which now has an up-to-date kitchen area. He has recently helped with the establishment of a Darts Club in the pavilion.
He is the main driving force behind youth football which has seen Woolavington Wanderers reemerge after a long gap with a number of different age groups ranging from Under 8s to Under 14s. He spends many hours cutting grass and marking pitches ready for matches and helping with training.
He has also set up Junior Park Runs which are shortly due to commence on Sunday mornings in the playing field after achieving grant funding to meet the costs involved.
The playing field has recently undergone major drainage improvement work and Stuart was the main link between the contractor and the Association for much of the duration of the work helping to sort out issues. He has since helped to overcome remedial work with the surface of the field and is drawing up a schedule of future maintenance to keep the new drainage system in good order including seeking grants towards the cost of machinery to reduce the cost of hiring contractors in the future."
At the same awards ceremony, we had further success when the Lower Play Area next to the Village Hall was awarded the June Wood Cup for best small play area in Somerset. The photo shows Charlie Taylor presenting the cup and certificate to Stuart.