What an unforgettable evening it was on Friday21st March at the 2025 Civic Reception. Mayor, Cllr Owen Collins presented the Citizen awards in his second term as Mayor. He was in great form, treating guests to some witty jokes and a few terrible puns in his opening speech to get everyone into the party spirit.
The very talented Voice 2021 winner, Torrin Cuthill gave us a performance to remember, showcasing her unmistakeable style and energy. From her original songs to taking a spin on some classics, Torrin’s set certainly had something for everyone.
The proceedings began with the Mayor’s Certificates of Merit, deservingly awarded to Glen Lee and Lou Lou, two retiring awardees who have given a vast amount of their time and effort to help the community of Witney, through their respective professions as a Fire Officer with Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue and volunteer role as founder of the Witney & West Oxfordshire Food Bank.
Next, we celebrated Apollos Clothing as the winner of the Community Organisation of the Year award. This remarkable charity provides clothing packages to hundreds of Witney families at no cost, ensuring that everything is washed, ironed, and beautifully presented in a hand-sewn tote bag. Despite working from their homes with limited resources, they tirelessly assist over a thousand individuals facing difficult circumstances, earning them well-deserved recognition for their unwavering commitment to the Witney community.
For the third award, Tower Hill Vixens achieved Sports Team of the Year, as the only football club with a league-playing Ladies football team. Following the success of Oxfordshire FA’s initiative “Squad Girls” which Tower Hill FC runs in Witney, Tower Hill FC has 13 girls teams and 30 qualified coaches that ensure girls in Witney of any ability are able to play grassroots football week after week.
Next, Witney Town Football Club received the award for Outstanding Civic Achievement. Their not-for-profit football club prioritises a “sustainable legacy that goes beyond victories on the pitch”. They regularly support community causes such as Witney in Pink, but even more so support their players. With the development of their partnership with ‘Tough To Talk’ – a men’s charity dedicated to breaking the silence around male mental health issues – they create a space to have important conversations and encourage support within the team.
Last but certainly not least, Citizen of the Year 2024 was awarded to Keith Crawford. Keith has been the property steward of the Witney Methodist Church for over 30 years, a Methodist Preacher for over 50 years, and has given a great service as a Church Organist. Keith was also twice president of the Rotary Club of Witney, in which he helps support charities like Shelterbox and Doctors Without Borders whilst also working to host significant community events such as Witney Carnival and the Witney Christmas Light Switch-On.
“Keith is the person who gets the phone call when anything has gone wrong, or people don’t know what to do, and he always responds without a moan and solves the problem every time. “ – A nominator
Witney Town Council would like to add its congratulations to all the award winners, and grateful thanks for all the hard work you do to help make Witney a better place for everyone.
