Riding Mill Parish Council's first Community Champion Award

Alan and Val Thompson received the Riding Mill Community Champion Award for 2024 from the Parish Council.

The council decided to make an annual award to someone or a group that has demonstrated outstanding service to the community and made a significant difference in ensuring that the parish is a great place to live. In future years, the council will accept nominations for the award.

The Mill Race garden, maintained by a group including Val and Alan, known as the Garden Invaders who were awarded an Outstanding in the It's Your Neighbourhood Awards from Britain in Bloom (Image: Riding Mill Parish Council) The retired couple were recognised for maintaining the Parish Hall gardens, contributing to the village over several decades and supporting many events.

READ MORE: Couple ties the knot at luxury wedding venue

Val, 73, said: "Lots of people help out [in the village], we've helped for years. We've just been lucky enough to be singled out as the first recipients of this award, it is rather nice.

"We're thrilled to bits, it was quite unexpected. It was very nice to be thought of in that way."

Alan and Val were presented with a bouquet and an engraved glass plaque on October 25 surrounded by residents and fellow volunteers.

Riding Mill has two halls - the newer Millennium and Parish Hall.

Val said: "It's nice to be involved and just make things pleasant for the people who live in the village. Alan (76) still does work for the Duke of Edinburgh award and has done that for a long time through the Army Cadets."

The Thompsons moved to the Tyne Valley from the coast 30 years ago when Alan worked as a civilian for Northumbria Police at Prudhoe Police Station, while Val worked as a housekeeper at Hexham, Prudhoe and Corbridge Police Stations, at Riding Mill's The Wellington pub and at the village halls.

The older Parish Hall was extended and a lobby was added several years ago. Val and other volunteers set up Coffee at the Foyer, which serves scones, tea cakes and hot drinks and is still popular in the village.

Christine Howe, chair of the Parish Council, said: “The choice for our first award is an obvious one. Val and Alan are always at the forefront of everything in the parish. From the Garden Invaders to the Sports Day organisation, coffee mornings and helping to run the Parish Hall in between.

"And who could forget Val in her Second World War land girl outfit at the D-Day memorial coffee morning.  This award is just a small way of saying thank you for all the effort you both put into our community, which is very much appreciated."