Last updated 16:08, Wednesday, 03 September 2008

WITH more than 50 years of unpaid work in the community under his belt, one Silloth resident knows a thing or two about what it takes to be a winning volunteer.

Helping to make his community a better place to live: Lawrence Marshall in his home at Hylton Terrace, Silloth

Lawrence Marshall, 73, was the runner up in the Volunteer of the Year award at last year’s Cumbria Community Awards.

He was first moved to help improve the lives of others after his brother, Ken, died of leukaemia 52 years ago.

“I always say that lady luck plays a part. My brother died when I was 21 and I’ve often wondered why it was him and not me. He was caught short and was very ill within months. That affected my decision to get involved with the community.”

Since then Lawrence, a former farm machinery sales and serviceman, has notched up an impressive list of ways in which his time makes his community a better place to be.

He organises the Silloth Luncheon Club, is deputy chairman of the Silloth Carnival, is the treasurer for the Silloth Community Bus and a trustee of Abbeytown’s Seadyke Charity and of the Silloth Nursing Home.

He is a judge at local ploughing competitions, is a show commentator for the Silloth Vintage Machinery Club, a sidesman for Christ’s Church in Silloth and also found the time to spend 11 years on Silloth Town Council and was the town’s mayor for two years.

“With the Luncheon Club, elderly people are picked up in the Silloth community bus once a week and our lady volunteers dish up for them. They are then taken back home,” said Lawrence.

“For some of these people, it is possibly the only time they have been out of the house all week. It is very worthwhile. Originally I drove the bus, but that had to stop at 70 because of the insurance!

“It’s not that big an effort, but if somebody does not do it, it folds.”

Lawrence said he has been involved with Silloth Carnival since “year dot” and believes such weekend events help bring all-important tourism into the town as well as providing fun for its residents.

Lawrence believes a can-do attitude is a desirable quality in a volunteer. “A friend said to me just last week ‘you know your trouble Lawrence, you just can’t say no”

But the main ingredient for being a great volunteer is a supportive family according to Lawrence, a grandfather of three. “Because many of the meetings happen in the evening, you have to have a patient wife.”

He urged people across Cumbria to help thank those people and groups who give up their time to make your community a better place.

“They should be recognised and this is an excellent way to do it.”

The awards, headed up by Cumbria County Council, have categories that aim to consider all of the different people, groups and organisations who make a real difference.

For more information about the Cumbria Community Awards and an online nomination form go to www.whitehaven-news.co.uk/communityawards.

They can be posted out on request by calling 01228 612201.

Nominations close on September 30.