FORMER mayor and pillar of the Haslemere community Michael Foster was honoured posthumously at a ceremony in the town hall, on Monday.

Mr Foster, who died in September, became the second recipient of a Haslemere Volunteer Award to be honoured in this way in the scheme’s history. He had been nominated just before his death and his son, Jonathan, received the medal on his behalf in an emotional moment for his family.

The awards scheme was launched in 2010 by Rotary president John Patrick, with the support of Herald Newspapers proprietor Sir Ray Tindle, who donated the medals to recognise the town’s most deserving volunteers.

Hamish Donaldson, who chairs the panel that select the winners, introduced each candidate, Fay Foster read out their citations, and mayor, Malcolm Carter, presented the medals.

Mr Foster’s award was for more than 50 years’ service on behalf of numerous charities and organisations, as well as being a former mayor and a long-serving town councillor.

Fellow award winners were: Mick Bradford recognised for his one-man crusade to honour the memory of three WWII airmen whose plane crashed in Haslemere 75 years ago; John Bristow for 50 years service to the Haslemere Air Training Corps; Melissa King for nearly 30 years service to Haslemere Chamber of Trade and numerous schemes for the town’s benefit; Karen Lance for quiet volunteering in numerous charities and good causes; and Jane Puttock, for for her outstanding contribution to the annual Haslemere Classic Car Show on Lion Green.

Residents can nominate worthy candidates for the next ceremony to be held on March 28, 2018. Forms are available from the town council, or online at www.haslemere.com/awards.