Wandsworth Civic Awards
The Wandsworth Civic Awards recognise the work of unsung local heroes.
The Awards are held annually, and put the spotlight on local people who have volunteered their services over a long period of time to help others. They could include charity workers, community activists or anyone whose tireless work has made a difference to their local area.
Winners were presented with Waterford crystal awards by the Mayor, Cllr Jane Cooper at a special ceremony at the town hall.
This year's winners
Philip Coleman
Philip gives up his time to act as a police-backed Appropriate Adult - someone who offers support or advice to a young person or vulnerable adult in custody.
Having joined the Army at the age of 18 and served for 22 years, Mr Coleman has spent the past 15 years supporting the police programme. During that time he has offered his help to juveniles arrested for offences as serious as murder and terrorism. Receiving an estimated six call-outs each week, Mr Coleman has helped in the region of 4,500 young and vulnerable residents over the years.
Patrick Lethaby
Tooting resident Patrick Lethaby was honoured for founding Oasis, a small chain of five charity shops in the borough that raises money for local people living with HIV.
Now 76, he still works in the Battersea branch of the chain he founded 22 years ago two days a week as well as being chair of Oasis and doing a large amount of the preliminary book-keeping work.
Abdul Razak Osman and Nasar Bawany
Abdul Razak Osman and Nasar Bawany were the first to ever receive a joint award at the ceremony.
Volunteers for more than 25 years, the two Gatton School governors are on the management committee of Balham Mosque and are prominent in helping run Tooting Islamic Centre, both of which they have attended for over 25 years. They were responsible for facilitating a police office in the mosque - a groundbreaking move at the time.
Kate Allen
Described as having "an extraordinary amount of energy", Kate Allen was the secretary of the Balham and Tooting Community Association (BATCA) between 2006 and 2010, helping it become one of the most influential community groups in Tooting.
She remains a long-time active parishioner at Holy Trinity Church , in Tooting, and combines this with being chair of the Associate Hospital Managers' Committee for the South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust.
Greg Cruttwell
Greg Cruttwell was celebrated for transforming the Balham Blazers football club from a single under-10s team into 12 teams from ages 8 to 18, a youth team playing at a semi-professional level and an adult team.
His decade-long project also saw the creation of an innovative bursary scheme for boys from less privileged backgrounds, which this year raised £55,000.
Pam Davies
Pam Davies was honoured for a string of voluntary efforts. She has been described as a "chair of outstanding qualities" having chaired the governor boards at St Michael's, in Southfields, and more recently St Faith's, in East Hill and has also been a key co-ordinator of the Triangle Residents Association in Southfields for 16 years.
