Individual Community Award 2023

The Rotary Club have been delighted  to present the 2023 individual Community Award to Mary Watkins, wife of member David Watkins.

She had been nominated for the remarkable work she has done in the Community over many years. When Norwich and Norfolk University Hospital told the Rotary Club they needed toiletry bags to offer to relatives of patients who unexpectedly needed to stay overnight, we were able to source items such as soap, shower gel and toothpaste, but needed a bag to put them in to. Mary stepped in and organised a group of 'Bag Ladies' who would meet once a week to drink tea, chat and create toiletry bags from various off cuts of materials. Over a few months several hundreds of these bags, filled with useful items were presented to the Hospital, to the delight of staff, and of course the relatives of patients.

We also wanted to recognise Mary's work at Wayland Prison in looking after the children of visitors to inmates, and also her tireless work in demonstrating the art of spinning throughout the county.

Mary is a true Community champion and a very worthy recipient of this award.