Axminster volunteer receives Robin Cross Citizen of the Year Award

Axminster Town Council has presented its Robin Cross Citizen of the Year Award, sponsored by Axminster Nub News.

The award was launched in 2016 in memory of well-known community champion Robin Cross, who was site manager at Axe Valley Community College and spent more than a quarter of a century with the Special Constabulary, attaining the rank of special inspector.

It is presented annually to an Axminster resident for their contribution to the community.

This year's winner, Mary Darlow, was presented with the shield at Axminster Town Council's meeting on Monday night. She will also receive £100 to donate to the charity of her choice, sponsored by Axminster Nub News.

The Mayor of Axminster, Cllr Jill Farrow, said it was her "very great pleasure" to present the award. She said that nine nominations had been received this year and the winner was selected by councillors via a secret ballot.

Mary Darlow moved to Axminster in September 2018 and quickly became involved in community life, first volunteering for Devon Air Ambulance and then as a driver for Axminster Care Service, and later becoming chair of the Guildhall Management Team, steering the venue through challenging times following the sudden death of manager Anni Young in December 2020 and through Covid lockdowns.

Mary now also volunteers with Axminster charity Nourish, providing food for vulnerable members of the community.

Along with founder Karen Taylor, who won the Robin Cross Award in 2022, Mary has helped develop Nourish to not only deliver nutritional meals to those in need, but to also host regular community lunches and picnics in the park for children.

On accepting the award, Mary said: "I'm really honoured and very proud to receive this award. Sadly, I did not have the privilege of knowing Robin Cross but I have heard many stories about him and I know he is a very hard act to follow."

She added that she was "very proud to call Axminster my home", and while she was having to cut back on her voluntary efforts after recently having surgery, she would continue as much as she could and hoped this would "make a difference".

"I will do my very best to live up to the high standards of the people named on this shield," she added.