Articles - Miscellaneous

"City carves their names with pride"

This was a headline in the Yorkshire Evening Post on 10 October 2008. It referred to the acknowledgement of the first five recipients of The Leeds Award. A former Leader of Leeds City Council and still a local Councillor for Moortown, Councillor Mark Harris proposed that outstanding achievement from Leeds citizens should be recognised and so The Leeds Award was instigated. Nominations were requested and it was Richard's privilege as the current Leader of Leeds City Council to propose five people who all received unanimous approval from the 99 Leeds City Councillors. St. Edmund's very own Sheila Miller was one of the famous five (along with local resident Sir Jimmy Saville).

Sheila received a certificate, a personal gift from the Lord Mayor of Leeds and a huge bouquet of flowers at a ceremony in the Banqueting Suite of the Civic Hall on 9 October. But most memorable of all for Sheila and everyone is the fact that recognition of her community work now has a permanent place in Leeds Civic Hall. Her name is carved on a special panel in the entrance to the ante-chamber.

Sheila received her Leeds Award for her voluntary work with St. James Hospital, St. Gemma's Hospice and Care Connects. She made a very moving impromptu acceptance speech dedicating her award to all Leeds volunteers, saying "So many people make a difference to the lives of others. It is a great privilege to be one of those people".

I was honoured to witness this ceremony as one of Sheila's guests. It was a wonderful evening and worthy recognition of the unstinting service Sheila has given for many years and I have only known 17 of them.

Christine Brett

26 October, 2008