Mayor of Hailsham Presents Prestigious Community Award

Mike Weller, chairman of Royal British Legion Hailsham Branch, has been recognised as a “Hailsham hero” for his dedication to local community life, enthusiasm and passion to help others.

Town Mayor Councillor Nigel Coltman, presented Mr Weller with the Hailsham Hero Award at the Annual Town Meeting held at the Hailsham Civic Community Hall on Tuesday evening [19 April].

Mike Weller, aged 79 and a resident of Hailsham for 22 years, served in the armed forces in Malaya and Borneo from 1954 to 1966 and has been a member of the Royal British Legion for over thirty years. He has served as chairman of the Hailsham Branch for the past six years and organised many fundraising activities and events for the RBL Poppy Appeal.

Mr Weller was nominated for the Hailsham Hero Award by a panel of town councillors and residents and was among a number of equally deserving people nominated.

The award was set up by the Town Council to recognise those people who have achieved great things for the local community, committed a single act of bravery, heroism or selflessness, or has gone above and beyond what is expected of them to make things happen.

Mayor Councillor Nigel Coltman, who sat on the judging panel, said it is important that Hailsham’s “unsung heroes” are able to be acknowledged and given formal recognition. He said: “This award is a fantastic way to commend and celebrate all those individuals who selflessly work throughout the year to help others in the community.”

“It was good to see so many names put forward for the award and I would like to personally congratulate all who were nominated and, of course, Mike Weller the recipient of the award. Well done!”

Award winner Mike Weller commented: “I’m honoured to be given the Hailsham Hero Award, considering the other nominees were very worthwhile recipients of the award too.”

“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank those who nominated me and remind people to donate money to the Poppy Appeal. So far this year we’ve raised around £23,000 for this good cause and it would be wonderful if we could increase that total.”