TOP HONOUR FOR BRIGG COUPLE & WHY THEY DESERVE IT

Mike and Heather Johnson in Brigg town centre. PICTURE: Ken Harrison.

FROM JEANETTE WOOLLARD, CLERK TO BRIGG TOWN COUNCIL

At the Brigg Town Council Meeting on Monday 23rd February 2015, it was resolved that the Joseph J. Magrath O.B.E. Award for Public Voluntary Service to the Community of Brigg in 2014, should be its first ever joint award, and that the recipients would be Mr. Mike Johnson and Mrs. Heather Johnson.
In determining their nomination, members were delighted to have the opportunity to acknowledge Mike and Heather’s dedication and commitment to various voluntary works for the benefit of the Town and the community, mainly through their membership of Brigg and District Lions and Mike’s membership of the Ancholme Lodge of Freemasons; but, specifically, their outstanding commitment toward the organisation of key major events in the Town calendar.
Members are very much aware that the organisation of the Annual Christmas Fair is a year round commitment and as soon as one event is over there is very little time before starting to plan for the following year. The Town Council is, therefore, most appreciative of their continued dedication to this annual event which has previously been under threat on more than one occasion, and they are also very much aware that it has grown, year on year, throughout their stewardship.  Thanks to their commitment, it is a very well organised and enjoyable evening for the local community, but is also of great benefit to the Town and the business community due to the huge numbers of visitors who visit the Town from further afield.
The majority of people would consider the work involved in organising the Christmas Fair to be sufficient, but members are equally aware of Mike and Heather’s involvement in the organisation and management of the Annual Brigg Beer Festival in May, which is also a long standing popular event in the Town’s calendar. More recently, it is understood that they were instrumental in adding the Cider Festival as another annual event in September. Both events attract a large clientele and provide the opportunity for the community to come together to meet old friends and new, with the proceeds then being used for the charitable works delivered by the Lions. This can only be considered as ‘doubly beneficial’ for everyone involved.
Events of this scale can quickly fall foul of the bureaucracy involved, but they have always shown a positive attitude to such matters and sought to work with both the Town Council and North Lincolnshire Council to seek a satisfactory and common sense solution to any issues that may arise. As a result, the Town benefits from three major community events and it is understood that plans are already underway to develop the Cider festival even further. Watch this space !
Their continued contribution to ensure that all three events will continue for many years to come must, therefore, be applauded and the Town Council is delighted to be given this opportunity to publicly recognise the work that Mike and Heather both do, for the benefit of others and the Town. It was, therefore,  unanimously agreed that Mike and Heather Johnson are most worthy recipients of the Joseph J. Magrath O.B.E. Award for Public Voluntary Service for 2014 and it is most fitting that the first ever joint award should be determined in their favour.
Accordingly, they are invited to attend the Town Mayor’s Civic Charity Dinner to be held on Saturday 28th March 2015 at the Angel Suite in Brigg, when the Town Mayor will present them with the Rose Bowl and a Certificate.