Young and old rewarded for dedication What an honour Big-hearted pupils will receive a top honour after impressing a Government Minister.

The special Certificates of Honour are awarded by the Lord Mayor of Oxford for dedicated service to the community.

The list of recipients this year includes about 25 pupils, aged 14 and 15, from Cheney School, in Headington, Oxford. In an unprecedented step, Foreign Office Minister Tony Lloyd nominated the pupils for their hard work in aid of the Hurricane Mitch appeal after visiting the school. Among the teenagers' achievements was raising £1,180 in just one term for their twin school - John F Kennedy School, in Leon, Nicaragua - which was badly hit by the hurricane last year.

Teacher Graham Hennin said: "They are obviously very, very pleased that they have had this level of recognition."

Lord Mayor Carole Roberts will present the certificates at Oxford Town Hall on Friday. Other recipients include Freda Cooper, of Wynbush Road, Rose Hill, whose husband, George, gained the honour last year.

Mrs Cooper, 79, founded the Rose Hill Playgroup more than 30 years ago and has worked tirelessly for the local community. Former treasurer of the Oxfordshire Pensioners Action Group, Arthur Church, 89, of Ridgefield Road, Cowley, will be honoured for his work in the fields of health, rights at work and on behalf of senior citizens.

The other recipients are Romy Briant, for running the St Margaret's Centre, in Polstead Road, north Oxford, Sandra Toms, for her work with the Jubilee Brass Band in Cowley, and former Lord Mayor Gordon Woodward, of Marlborough Road, south Oxford, for his work with City of Oxford Charities and the city's twinning links.

Story date: Monday 03 May

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.