Details revealed of quartet who will recognised at the 2020 Axbridge Civic Awards

The four people who will receive Axbridge Civic Awards this year have been revealed.

The celebration of Axbridge Community Service will be held on Sunday March 1 at 3pm, in St John the Baptist Church in the town.

It will include the presentation of Civic and Young Person's Awards, and recognition of the recipient of a British Empire Medal.

A spokesperson for Axbridge Town Council said: "Thank you to all who took the time to nominate individuals for these awards showing just how much the town appreciates those volunteers working hard to make Axbridge such a lovely place to live." 

Barbara Wells has been selected to receive the Civic Award her involvement in many varied local groups.

She has played a key part in the Pageant Sewing Group, not only hosting the group and producing and storing costumes in 2010 but also creating costumes for the 2020 pageant as well as helping to create the beautiful tapestry panels and fundraising calendar.

Barbara has also been a driving force in the Neighbourhood Plan Group, helped to establish the Independent Women group, set up the annual Rumble in the Jumble event and enabled the start of the Handbell Ringers Group.

Most recently, she continues to work hard helping Axbridge become a Dementia Friendly Community, which has led to the formation of the Poetry and Short Story Group. 

Jessica Cooksey has been selected for her outstanding achievements in rugby, with her commitment and passion resulting in her not only playing for her schools at Fairlands, Kings of Wessex and Hartpury College, Gloucester, but also playing for Somerset and England South West division in the U15s and U18s.

She has also played for England U18s and for England rugby 7s when she played in two European Championships, one in France and one in Poland.

While at Hartpury College, during BTEC courses, she represented the college playing in both the USA and Japan in the U20s championships.

She is currently studying at Durham University where she plays for the university first team and for Darlington Mowden Park Sharks.

Combined with this, she makes the journey to Windsor once a month to train with the England team and throughout this busy schedule still finds time to train youth teams and return to Winscombe whenever she is able. 

Marcus Ham is also a very worthy recipient of the Young Person's Award, due to both his exeptional academic achievements and for his musical contribution to Axbridge.

Academically, he obtained A*, A* and A in his A-levels, with his hard work and commitment gaining him a place at Oxford University to read Arabic and German.

He is also an exceptional musician who has, since the age of 11, been one of the bell ringers in Axbridge, carrying on that ancient tradition.

As well as playing piano and euphonium to a high standard, he has often helped with occasions in the church, helped the younger children in the brass band of the Cheddar Valley Music Club and received a Gold Award from the Lions for his outstanding voluntary work. 

Michael Taylor has been awarded a British Empire Medal for his meritorious civil service to local government and, especially, Axbridge, which will be publicly recognised at the Civic Service.

As well as being a member of Axbridge Town Council for more than 28 years and mayor on three occasions, he has played a key role on many committees and groups, not least chairing the Administration and Finance Advisory Group.

He has been instrumental in many projects including leasing the Furlong Recreation Field to provide play and sports facilities and purchasing the car parks.

He has been actively involved in various local groups including Axbridge Community Partnership and has chaired meetings for organisations such as Somerset Association of Local Councils and the Cheddar Valley Cluster Group.

In his working life, he has been clerk to Meare and Westhay Parish Council, clerk to Axbridge Town Trust and been a parent school governor at Kings of Wessex School. 

The awards will be presented by the High Sheriff of Somerset at the Civic Service on Sunday March 1. 

All residents are cordially invited to join in this thanksgiving for the community of Axbridge.  Please be seated by 2.50pm.

For more on Mike Taylor's BEM, click on the red button below.