On Tuesday 2 September, staff, volunteers, trustees and patrons from across Beds RCC came together at Warden Abbey Vineyard for the organisation’s annual summer celebration, enjoying an afternoon of food, conversation and recognition of colleagues’ achievements.
Warden Abbey Vineyard once again provided a beautiful setting for the event, bringing together people from across the organisation. While the weather was rather overcast and breezy, it remained dry throughout and did nothing to dampen spirits.
This year, attendees enjoyed a yummy buffet-style meal, offering a wide selection of food for everyone to enjoy. The event provided a welcome opportunity for people from different teams to spend time together and celebrate shared successes.
As always, one of the highlights of the event was the opportunity to recognise and thank the many staff who contribute so much to Beds RCC and the communities it supports. There were special awards for colleagues who had been at the organisation for 20 years, including: Jemma McLean, Mike Fayers and Justine Hunt. There was also special recognition of Paula Grayson, for her years as Chair of Beds RCC, and Janice Janes, for her years of service.
The winners of the traditional Beds RCC awards for 2025-26 were:
THE GREEN CHAMPION AWARD
WINNER
SUZY ENOH ARTHUR
Community Wellbeing Manager (Maternity Cover)
Highly Commended:
NICOLA SCHOLFIELD
Green Infrastructure Team Leader & Green Social Prescribing Lead
THE WELLBEING CHAMPION AWARD
WINNER
LIN WILLIS
Community Wellbeing Champion
Highly Commended:
MANDY ADGER
Community Wellbeing Champion
THE EXTRA MILE AWARD
WINNER
JO BARROW
Executive Assistant
Highly Commended:
RICHARD MCLEOD
Dunstable Community Halls Caretaker
THE BEST OF BEDS RCC AWARD
WINNER
AMANDA HIGHAM
Village and Community Agent
Highly Commended:
GEMMA AYLEN
You Can Do IT! Coordinator Bedford & Community Hub Assistant
The afternoon was filled with laughter and good chats, with everyone enjoying the opportunity to come together away from their day-to-day roles. Events such as these help strengthen connections across the organisation and reinforce the values that make Beds RCC such a supportive place to work and volunteer.
A huge thank you goes to everyone involved in organising the event and making it such a success. We look forward to coming together again next year – with hopefully better weather!