Baughurst woman receives good citizen's award

Chairman of Tadley Town Council, David Leeks, presented Maureen Gifford with the town council’s Good Citizen Award last Thursday (September 18) at Tadley and District University of the Third Age’s (U3A) monthly meeting, at Tadley and District Community Centre (pictured).
The U3A’s membership secretary, Jacki Cassidy, said Mrs Gifford had been the driving force behind the setting up of Tadley and District U3A in March 2012 and continued:
“ Maureen has served as chairwoman of the committee since start-up and in that time we have seen the organisation grow to 530 members and 43 interest groups.
The impact of having such an organisation in the Tadley area should not be underestimated and has changed the lives of many residents both locally and in the surrounding areas, quite an achievement, Maureen is an inspiration to us all.”
Mrs Gifford’s award was supported by Roger Gardiner the mayor of Basingstoke and Deane and also St Michael’s Hospice, whose Tadley charity shop she has worked in for the last five years, whilst also supporting her husband, Colin Gifford, in his charitable activities with Loddon Valley Lions.
Mrs Gifford said she was ‘Flabbergasted’ to receive the award, but “Very pleased and proud,” she added.
The U3A is a self-help organisation offering people who are no longer in full-time employment opportunities to share their life-long knowledge, skills and experience with like-minded people in a wide range of interest groups.
ENDS