The Harvest Festival service in St Mary’s Church in 2010 had a surprise for one of the church’s stalwart members. Towards the end of the service the vicar announced an extra item to the programme. David Billyeald, chairman of the Crich Area Community News Committee, went to the front to announce that Ken Heywood had been awarded the CACN Community Award and asked Ken to step out from the choir stalls to receive the engraved plaque. There was applause and tremendous warmth for this popular decision.

Ken, as well as being a staunch supporter of St Mary’s Church, can be seen around the parish, always cheerful and smiling, helping a great many of our parish residents. It is not only the elderly he supports and helps but the young as well – he is well known as the community Santa Claus. Ken is always positive in outlook and will always have a good word to say. Tuesdays will find him at the Glebe encouraging the young (and not so young) in their table tennis skills. He has been very active in our community over a great many years and we are pleased that his unassuming work has been recognised in a very small way.

Thank you to the vicar for allowing the hijack of his service and to the church members who knew that the presentation was to happen but kept it secret from Ken.