Every year the Mayor of Bath awards a medal and certificate to residents who have made an outstanding contribution to life in Bath.
My thanks to Marian McNeir – a former Mayor of Bath and Chair of the Silver Ring Choir – for the following story:
This year’s recipients were firstly Ruth Bwye for her dedicated contribution to the Silver Ring Choir, one of Bath’s oldest choirs having been founded by Kelvin Thomas in 1951. Ruth has been a member of the choir for 50 years and Hon Secretary for 46 years.
The Mayor of Bath, Cllr Patrick Anketell-Jones, with Ruth and her niece Frances.
Ruth has organised every tour, national and international, in all those years and has arranged for the choir to visit America, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Hungary, France, Holland and Germany among others — a mammoth undertaking which will continue next year when the SRC plans to take part in the Choral Festival in Aix en Provence.
Ruth was nominated for the Award by Marian McNeir MBE, Chairman of the SRC , who praised Ruth’s steadfast commitment and indeed devotion to the choir over 50 years — ” an amazing achievement which has added enormously to the enduring success of the choir “.
Ruth with friends and choir members.
John Carter was the other very worthy recipient of the Award. John has devoted 38 years to being Chairman of the Bath Cancer Unit Support Group . During this time he has helped to fundraise for many items of equipment, the most notable being £1.2 million for the Positron Scanner — a wonderful achievement which has helped many RUH patients.
If you would like to nominate someone for the Mayor’s Citizen Award next year, please contact the Mayor’s Office on 01225 477411 or email mayor_of_bath@bathnes.gov.uk
Freelance Journalist, broadcaster, columnist and local historian. Director of Bath Newseum. Married and lives in Bath.
Interested in local history, architecture and visual display in museums and urban spaces.
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