Stratford Boat Club's head adaptive coach Mark Dewdney scoops surprise volunteer of the year accolade

STRATFORD Boat Club’s head adaptive coach Mark Dewdney received a surprise volunteer of the year award by the outgoing High Sheriff of Warwickshire at Warwick School last Thursday.

The Stratford BC official was handed the accolade by Lady Willougby de Broke in recognition of “great and valuable services to the community”.

Dewdney was nominated by Mayor of Stratford Cllr Kevin Taylor, who said: “It was a great night on Thursday evening attending the High Sheriff of Warwickshire’s evening reception where she presented awards to various charities from around Warwickshire.

“All of the Warwickshire Mayors were requested to nominate a volunteer of the year award and it was a great honour to nominate Mark Dewdney. He is a truly inspirational character with a vision of creating an incredibly inclusive and important section of a great sporting club.

“He works tirelessly to deliver and although now supported by a very willing number of dedicated volunteers, without his vision drive and enthusiasm this would have never happened.”

He added: “Volunteers such as Mark are critical in the delivery of projects in the area. They are the catalysts in delivering programmes such as this and I know I will be seeking Mark’s advice in how to deliver an adaptive group within Stratford Table Tennis Club. Well done, Mark, this award is incredibly well deserved.”

Boat club president Paul Stanton said Dewdney had no idea the award was coming and that the club was “immensely proud” of the work he has done for not just them but the community as well. He added: “The adaptive section and the club goes from strength to strength and is reliant and built on the volunteering ethic that Mark exemplifies.”