THE Tamar Valley AONB celebrated at the Volunteer Cornwall awards ceremony, after being awarded highly commended in the ‘host of the year’ category, for hosting the two-year Heritage Lottery funded Helping Hands for Heritage project.

One of the Tamar Valley’s most dedicated and committed volunteers Ian Aldersey, who sadly died earlier this year, was also recognised for his services to volunteering in the Tamar Valley.

Ian was posthumously awarded highly commended in the ‘cultural volunteer’ category. The award was proudly received by Ian’s brother Phil.

The Volunteer Cornwall awards took place at Newquay’s Atlantic Hotel. The annual awards ceremony is held to recognise the vital role volunteers play in society.

In front of an audience of invited guests, nominees and nominators, the Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall, Col Edward Bolitho, presented the highly commended and winning volunteers with their awards.

Sam Barnes, who ran the Helping Hands for Heritage project, collected the award on behalf of the AONB team.

She said: ‘It was an honour to be shortlisted for the two awards and inspirational to see how much volunteering takes place in Cornwall. Coming highly commended among the work of the Samaritans and the Dreadnought Centre, based in Pool, is something that the Tamar Valley AONB team — and its volunteers — should be proud of.

‘The posthumous award for Ian Aldersley as cultural volunteer will provide a remembrance for his friends and family of all the fantastic work he did and the commitment he had for the valley.’

The Tamar Valley AONB team expressed thanks to everyone involved who made the award possible.

For more information about volunteering opportunities, visit www.tamarvalley.org.uk