TWO community stalwarts have been recognised for the vital voluntary work they do to help others.
Allen Young, 55, and Harry Hall, 46, both received the High Sheriff Award for the difference they have made to their local communities.
Allen runs Harbour Place Day Centre, in Albert Street West – the largest provider of services for homeless people and other socially excluded groups in North East Lincolnshire.
Last year, the centre provided help and support for about 12,000 people and without Allen's continuous quest for funding and time invested, it would not be possible.
Allen, from Cleethorpes, said: "I was quite humbled when I found out about the award because there are so many good causes and good people working in the voluntary sector in North East Lincolnshire.
"The award is really a reflection of the commitment and dedication of the volunteers at Harbour Place."
Harry was nominated for the award by the chief fire officer at Humberside Fire and Rescue Service, Richard Hannigan, in recognition of his commitment to the Fire and Rescue Service and to the LIVES charity as a volunteer.
Father-of-three Harry, from Humberston, has been a LIVES first responder for 13 years and came up with the idea of a dedicated LIVES vehicle to assist the fire service.
Harry, who previously came runner-up in the national Nationwide Award for Voluntary Endeavour, said: "I was chuffed when I found out I'd got the High Sheriff's award.
"Obviously I don't do any of it for that but it is really nice when it does happen."
Allen and Harry were two of 12 people to receive the award from the High Sheriff of Lincolnshire, John Burke.
He said: "These people make Lincolnshire a better and safer place to live and I am very keen to support them.
"On behalf of Lincolnshire, I'd like to give them my heartfelt thanks for the part they have played in making Lincolnshire a county to be proud of."
Allen and Harry were presented with an engraved lapel pin and a certificate at the Judges' Lodgings in Lincoln's Castle Square.
Facts about High Sheriffs The Office of High Sheriff is at least 1,000 years old having its roots in Saxon times before the Norman Conquest. Originally the office held many of the powers now vested in police, Lords-Lieutenant, High Court judges, magistrates, local authorities, coroners and even the Inland Revenue. The Shrievalty is the oldest secular office after the Crown and the area for which a Sheriff is appointed is usually called his/her Bailiwick. The High Sheriff remained first in precedence in the counties until the reign of Edward VII when an Order in Council in 1908 gave the Lord-Lieutenant the prime office under the Crown as the Sovereign's personal representative. Appointed annually in April, the High Sheriff remains the Sovereign's representative in the county for all matters relating to the judiciary and the maintenance of law and order. The Sheriff's duties are both official and unofficial. The Shrievalty in Lincolnshire was interrupted in 1974 when the County of Humberside took over the complete northern part of the county and eight High Sheriffs of Humberside were in office for the whole of that county. This was abolished in 1996 and the northern bailiwicks reverted to Lincolnshire once more.
