Club recognises award

Press, 13 February 1986, Page 8

Club recognises award

Mr Walter Harris, president of the Sydenham Senior Citizens’ Friendly Club, greets (from' left)

Mrs Dorothy Hillsdon, aged 76, Mrs Mabel Moore, aged 95, and Mrs Jane McCrostie, aged 74, at a garden party held in Sydenham yesterday in honour of Mr Harris’s l award of the Queen’s Service Medal in the New Year’s Honours List. The garden party was held at the home of the.

member of Parliament for Sydenham, Mr Jim Anderton. Mr Anderton is patron of the club. He nominated Mr Harris for the award. The garden party was held as the club’s weekly activity. Mr Harris has planned an activity for the club for each Wednesday of his

18 years as club president. Yesterday he became the guest of hnour at the garden party.

Mr Harris said yesterday that he had been, involved in community work for 55 years. Much of his work has been done through the Anglican Church. He had done

training with the Social Welfare Department and had helped organise recreational activities while in the Army. He also had close ties with the Manchester Unity Tramping Club which he brought out of recess more than 30 years ago. He became president of

the senior citizens’ club soon after joining. The 10 vice-presidents of the club asked him to consider standing for the post after he had been a member for just a few days. He agreed to “give it a go” for a year and has held the post since. Mr Harris, who is 77, will be invested with the Q.S.M. by the Queen in Wellington on February 28, an event he regards as a double honour.