A BOURNEMOUTH ambulance technician and lifeguard was honoured at a special awards ceremony at the town hall.

Public-spirited Stephen Massey, who is captain of the RLSS Boscombe Lifeguards and trains Ambulance Service cadets in Poole Bay, was named volunteer of the year by the Mayor Councillor Emily Morrell-Cross.

Stephen has been a lifeguard for nine years, devoting about 20 hours each week to the much-needed public service.

As well as working full-time, he maintains all the lifeguards' equipment and runs beach lifeguard courses.

The highly commended volunteer of the year award went to Tessa Hawkins, 15, a volunteer with the Beaufort Children's Fund Outreach Project which provides informal learning for five to 13-year-olds.

The big-hearted teenager is also a member of Bournemouth Youth Council which aims to improve the life of all Bournemouth's young people, giving up to 30 hours every week during her school holidays to worthy causes.

The volunteer group of the year award went to the dedicated band of about 800 Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals' NHS Trust Volunteers who work within the hospitals and provide counselling for patients at home.

They also transport patients to and from their homes for hospital appointments, benefiting thousands of people during the past four decades.

A special award went to St John Ambulance Bournemouth cadets and leaders.

The 20 cadets assist adult members who give first-aid to the public and help provide cover at a host of public events. Cadets gave up 430 hours of their spare time at the seafront last year while adult members provided almost 900 hours cover.

First published: May 24