The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
A Gedney Hill couple have been recognised for their services to the village and South Holland community.
David and Ann Ingle have been given a 2022 Good Citizens Award in ceremony at the recent Lincolnshire Show.
The awards were created to recognise the extraordinary work that so many volunteers do throughout Lincolnshire with the pair landing the award in the Pair or Couple class.
When the pandemic struck, the kind-hearted couple were at the centre of the local COVID response.
Ann is chair of Gedney Hill and District Memorial Hall, having been integral to the fundraising effort which saw it rebuilt in 2001, while David has been a committee member for 20 years.
During the pandemic, the hall became the focal point for the local community, with the couple being central to setting up support to ensure people didn’t go without.
They arranged a drive through at the car park where people who struggled to get to a supermarket could buy fresh fruit and vegetable boxes.
They also found a mobile operator to set up a fresh pizza takeaway and they were instrumental in setting up Sunday lunch deliveries free to those who were struggling, assisted by a willing band of village volunteers.
Their efforts have seen the installation of new catering equipment which has enabled the hall to provide Sunday lunches during the winter.
Ann is part of Gedney Hill Community Group, which organises the annual village fun day and Remembrance Day commemorations.
They are both involved with Holy Trinity Church where Ann is a licenced lay minister and David is churchwarden.
He also helps maintain the building and the grounds of both this church and St Polycarp’s at Holbeach Drove.
David is an active volunteer and trustee of Holbeach Community Larder.
“Ann and David are a couple who exemplify public service. It is difficult to imagine a couple who give more of their time to the community,” said fellow volunteer Neil Watson.
