Mayor's Awards 2025

Sandra Davies was the winner of the 'Community Hero' Mayor's Award, with a huge number of votes.

She was nominated due to the many ways in which she works so hard to help make Thornbury the warm, fun and welcoming place it is.

Sandra has created a true community pub, The Swan, which is inclusive and caring place where everyone feels welcomed. The Swan always raises a phenomenal amount of money for charity – in 2025 alone she and her team in the Swan have raised £190,127.58.

Sandra has supported many charities through fundraising in The Swan, in particular the veterans of the Armed Forces which she allocates one Saturday morning a month for in the Swan.

Sandra also hosts Thornbury Litterbusters one Saturday morning a month after their efforts to collect litter from all over the town, plus many other community groups in her upstairs room. Sandra also organises such wonderful events via Love Thornbury. One person called her ‘a true gem in Thornbury’

Sandra always supports initiatives helping individuals, charities and Thornbury itself, and she is a true Community Hero. Congratulations Sandra!

For the past three years Marrie Kingscott has looked after the younger rugby teams, supporting roughly 60 families

Marrie is welcoming to new families joining Thornbury Rugby Club, from helping them navigate the app used to register for matches to finding second hand boots for children.

Marrie also organises kitchen duty at the club, co-ordinates group bookings and outings to external matches as well as development activities including training sessions with Bristol Bears and Hartpury.

Marrie’s dedication, patience and organisational skills helps the rugby club run smoothly, makes life easier for the 60 families she has supported, and has meant scores of children have had the opportunity to be part of a sports team and the rugby community – something they will carry with them for life.

Marrie does all of this on top of working full time, being a mum of three small children, and being school Governor.

Congratulations Marrie!

Gillian Holmes started Panache Steel Band when she was a teacher at Castle School and it has now been going for over 30 years.

It was said by her nominees that her enthusiasm and commitment for teaching music has impacted so many individuals over the years.

Panache has been able to bring entertainment, culture and fun to the Thornbury community through playing at local pubs, schools and at Thornbury events such as Fun Palaces.

Panache is a registered charity and has expanded to provide local people, from adults to children, the opportunity the experience the joy of steel pans via workshops and community beginner courses.

This has involved a huge amount of work which Gill does selflessly giving up her free time regularly.

Congratulations Gillian on winning the 'Arts Facilitator' category, and thank you for the music!

Three years ago Imogen had a speech impediment which had destroyed her confidence and self-esteem. Her schoolteacher recommended that she join a drama group to help her voice develop, so she joined Thornbury's children's drama club 'Little Stars.'

Despite initially being very shy and finding just standing on the stage difficult she grew in self confidence, overcame her difficulties with speech, and blossomed as a performer.

Imogen is very supportive of the new children who join 'Little Stars' and are feeling nervous; she always does her best to warmly welcome them and help them settle in.

She is very inclusive and helps to create a fun, caring, imaginative atmosphere so that every child feels confident to be themselves on stage too.

She is always keen to help to set and up and clear away at the end of each drama session so is an all round helpful member of the group!

Congratulations Imogen on being the winner of the 'Arts Youth' Mayor's Award.

L.E Riddiford is the winner of the 'Small Business Category.'

‘Riddifords’ as most locals call it, is a small shop has been at the centre of the community for many years (three generations, since 1926) and has given a fantastic service to people in the town and surrounding area.

During Covid Riddifords was credited for going above and beyond what might be expected to help elderly and vulnerable customers, making their services even more valued.

They have an incredibly large range of stock and always have beautiful displays outside the shop on the High Street.

Riddifords try to support local events when possible, and are a real asset Thornbury.

Local charity Jigsaw have provided services for children and young people with additional needs or disabilities, and their families, for over 11 years.

Jigsaw has been described as a complete lifeline to families, one person said ‘JIGSAW helped me a lot with mental health and getting through things. Every week I come here and it makes me a bit happier.’

Jigsaw mentors young volunteers, with young volunteer saying, ‘Being a young volunteer has pushed me to do things I would never have been able to do without JIGSAW being their supporting me all the way. The opportunities they have given me are very special as being a neurodivergent young person in this society is very challenging but with JIGSAW I can be myself and prove everyone wrong. JIGSAW changed my life for the better.’

Jigsaw help create a sense of friendship, community and inclusivity to Thornbury and are the winners of the 'Group Hero' category.

Matt Lansdown is the Youth Chairman at Thornbury Town FC, and he coaches two age groups.

Matt was praised by many people for always on hand for advice and for showing total dedicated to Thornbury Town FC, with his values allowing many children to be involved in football for the town.

Congratulations Matt for being Thornbury's 'Sport Leader' Mayor's Awards Winner.

Thornbury Ladies Run Together are the winners of the 'Sports Team' Category.

Kate and Ange have been running the popular Thornbury Ladies Run Together for the past nine years. It started off in 2015 when England Athletics were promoting and recruiting local leaders for community running groups. Kate and Ang took up the challenge, learning how to lead an outdoor exercise club.

Thornbury Ladies Run Together started as a “school gates” club at St. Marys (where their children went to school) and it has since grown and now welcomes mums from all of Thornbury and surrounding areas and is now also affiliated with Castle school.

Between 10 and 25 women participate every Friday morning during term-time, for some of them this is their only exercise of the week. Kate and Ang ensure the exercises each week are fun, engaging and varied, and aimed at all levels and abilities; one week might involve using weights within the training, another we might pick cards from a pack to determine the order of activities.

Kate and Ange put lots of planning and effort into each session, so their volunteering time each week is much more than the set up and hour the participants exercise in.

One of most important elements of the group, aside from the exercise, is the community of support Kate and Ang have built. One person commented: ‘They are so welcoming to new participants, make a special effort to remember everyone’s names. They are skilled at encouraging moving and talking together, so everyone feels included, turning exercising into something social too. On Thursday evenings and Friday mornings they send out encouraging messages to the group, this really helps participants (such as myself) to go along, even if its wet or cold’. Another added ‘Come rain or shine, they are there every term-time Friday, with grace, humour and kindness

Kate and Ang also fundraise during national fundraising days, such as Macmillan, Comic Relief and Children in Need, and encourage participation in sponsored runs.

Congratulations Kate and Ange for running such a fantastic group here in Thornbury.

The Thornbury Branch of Maidenhead Aquatics were the winners of the 'Large Business' Category. 

Staff were praised for being committed to helping customers achieve the highest welfare standards for their fish, including helping with everything from disease identification, worming, medications and equipment failure. Water chemistry and the equipment to maintain it is complex, and being able to explain these concepts to customers in ways they understand is a real skill, which they were praised for.

One customer said, 'The level of customer service and aftersales care they provide is exceptional. They give advice in person, over the phone, by email and by Messenger – the team are incredibly easy to contact in a variety of ways, which means they can talk me through treatments over the phone as I do it, diagnose fish problems off photos and videos.'

Congratulations 'Maidenhead Aquatics.'

Jackie Jackson won the 'Individual Hero' Category.

Jackie has promoted the arts in Thornbury for many years, and she was the artistic director of the Arts Festival committee. Through her hard work and determination she has brought many acts to Thornbury. Jackie has involved local schools with Arts Festival, is on the Eisteddford committee and is currently supporting Armstrong Hall re-opening.

Thank you Jackie for all your hard work celebrating art and culture to Thornbury.