South Ayrshire Council - Council News

Long Service Awards Celebration

An evening of celebration, in a marquee in the grounds of Rozelle House was held to acknowledge the long service of South Ayrshire Council staff. On the same evening a group of local young people were presented with Provost’s medals.

A marquee, kindly lent to the Council for the evening by the organisers of Ayr Flower Show, was the venue for a ceremony to acknowledge members of staff who have achieved over 25 years of continuous service to the Council and the people of South Ayrshire. The 17 members of staff who received awards work in either the department of Development, Safety and Regulation, Social Work, Housing and Health or Education, Culture and Lifelong Learning.

Councillor Hugh Hunter, the Leader of the Council said: “I have great admiration for these members of staff who have given dedicated service to the Council and to the people of South Ayrshire. To these members of staff their work is not just a job, but a way of life, and the fact that they chose to remain with the Council for so many years shows what a great organisation it is. I would like to thank each of them for their contribution and wish them well in their future careers.”

Each member of staff was presented with a Long Service certificate and a gift voucher by South Ayrshire Council Provost Winifred Sloan.

A group of young people from the Auld Kirk in Ayr, who were on a working trip to Peru to build accommodation blocks for young boys were also at the ceremony. The Provost heard that they had been caught up in a miners strike, where barricades had been built across their route across the Andes, and the group had been under threat by objects such as boulders that were thrown in their path. One of the group became very ill, due to the high altitude that they were travelling at. Without a thought for their own safety the youngsters decided to carry her nearly three miles to a safe place where a truck was waiting to take them to their destination.

To acknowledge their courage the Provost awarded them with Provost’s medals, she said: “Provost’s medals are only given out to people who have achieved extraordinary things, and this group of young people certainly have. They showed courage and determination in the face of adversity, they put someone else before their own needs and showed maturity beyond their years.”

The Long Service awards and the Provost’s medals were presented in front of an audience that included invited guests of those receiving awards. Some local business people were also present, they had been invited to attend so that they could see and hear for themselves the outstanding work and dedication shown to the Council by staff. It also gave them a chance to gain a better understanding of the wide range of duties carried out by staff, and the services delivered to the residents of South Ayrshire and visitors to the area. The Directors of Ayr Flower Show were also present at the Long Service awards ceremony.

Following the presentations there was a small reception for the award recipients and their guests.

Provost Winifred Sloan is pictured at the Long Service awards ceremony with members of staff and other Councillors.

Provost Winifred Sloan is pictured with recipients of the Provost’s Medal and representatives from the Auld Kirk in Ayr.

August 2007