Councillors support creation of Best of Banff and Buchan award
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A new award scheme aimed at celebrating “outstanding and significant” achievements of groups and individuals in the north-east will be set up following approval from councillors.
The Best of Banff and Buchan award would be unique to the area and given to those who have shown bravery or selflessness in times of need.
Under the new scheme, councillors could make suggestions of those who have made a difference to the local area either over a long period of time or a one-off event.
Once agreed, awards will be presented at future meetings of the Banff and Buchan area committee.
But it is anticipated that only one or two awards would be presented a year.
The committee used to have an informal award, but it fell by the wayside due to the creation of the wider annual Inspiring Aberdeenshire awards.
In December 2019, the committee handed out special recognition of bravery awards to a number of locals.
This included sisters Eilidh and Isla Noble who saved the lives of a man and his four-year-old son when they got into trouble in the water at Fraserburgh beach.
The award was also presented to Chay Clark, George Bruce, Kevin Clark, Rebekah Clark, Sarah Geddes and Nadia Gresham who saved two brothers who also got into difficulties at the beach.
However that was the last award of its kind presented by the committee.
The Best of Banff and Buchan award scheme was considered by councillors yesterday.
Councillor Glen Reynolds noted that awards had been presented by the committee on an ad hoc basis in the past that had “worked well”.
He raised a concern that formalising the awards could add extra work to council staff who are under “enormous” stress.
But councillor Ann Bell, who initially raised the idea, wanted to see support for the scheme.
She said: “I just thought it is sometimes good for us as a committee to recognise some of our citizens’ endeavours”.
Councillor John Cox said he supported the idea of recognising achievements, but wanted to see something less formal instead.
He said: “Many people go on unnoticed in the eyes of many, but they do so much good work behind the scenes.
“We should recognise people as and when it’s required rather than getting into this set-up, because when we do that people will be missed out and it could create more problems down the line.”
After going to a vote, councillors opted to support the establishment of the Best of Banff and Buchan award.
The scheme will run for a year to allow officers to monitor its progress.
It will be subject to a review once the trial year is over.
