Parish Council Business
Friends!
Please, help a clerk out….
Henry Butt Trophy Award,
I mentioned last month that the nomination forms were available for the Henry Butt Trophy Award, and since that announcement a few people have been in touch to say they had no idea what I was banging on about! Well, as you can imagine, I was dismayed that such a hugely important award could be overlooked, and so I’ve decided not to hopelessly try to lure you into joining the Parish Council this month.
But instead, ask you all to make a nomination for the Henry Butt Award. You can find all of the information about this below. You can access the nomination forms online at the Parish Council website https://wedmore-pc.gov.uk or pop into the office for a paper copy.
Thank you as ever for appeasing my whims! I’ll hopefully be wading through
deluges of nominations soon.
What’s the story of ‘The Henry Butt Trophy’?
First the history behind the man. Henry Butt: 1861-1944. Born the son of a Langport coal merchant, Henry was sent to Weston-super-Mare aged 18 to manage a branch of the Somerset Trading Company, though he quickly decided to set up his own competing business. He was an astute operator, eventually taking ownership of Milton Quarry and, with oodles of cash and his own stone to hand, purchased numerous middle-class hillside houses which he converted into flats, all of which still bear his brand name – ‘Mansions’. Being something of a rough diamond and self-publicist, Butt climbed the social ladder with difficulty and when snooty members of Weston Golf Club rejected his membership application Butt simply founded an alternative club – on Worlebury.
He helped fund the Winter and Italian Gardens projects and almost single-handedly
raised £60,000 (£ 3.5 million today) to build a new hospital on the Boulevard. Butt became Weston’s first Mayor in 1937 and died at his home – Langport House in Eastfield Park. He was buried with his wife, who tragically died during their mayoral year, in Milton Road Cemetery.
So, what’s the trophy about?
He presented the cup to Wedmore in the mid-1930s to be used for a pushball competition which was held each year in the Lerburne. The trophy was awarded in recognition of Wedmore raising a very large sum of money towards a new wing at the General Hospital Weston Super Mare, known as the Henry Butt Ward. He also gave all the ladies who helped raise this money a string of pearls. When the competition ceased, the cup was put away for a number of years. In 1962 the cup was resurrected and is now presented annually for Outstanding Service to the Community.
It is given annually to people who have contributed significantly to the community, whether for work done over the past year or commitment over many years. In 2022 the award was made to Margaret Tinney, for her dedication and services to Blackford Village Hall and its bookings.
Whether individuals or groups, if you know someone deserving of an award, download the nomination form from the Parish Website or contact: clerk@wedmore-pc.gov.uk or phone 01934 713087.
The closing date for nominations is Sunday 9 April 2023. Recipients and their nominators will be invited to the Annual Parish Assembly to be held on Wednesday 24 May to receive their award.
Lindsey Baker
Parish Clerk, Wedmore Parish Council,
Grant’s Lane, Wedmore Somerset BS28 4EA
Telephone 713087,
email clerk@wedmore-pc.gov.uk
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