YOUTH club volunteers, a scout leader and a lunch club organiser were among community stalwarts recognised at a community awards ceremony in Botley.

The first Best of Botley Awards celebrated individuals and organisations who have given their support to local organisations and good causes.

Nominees on Friday included a 92-year-old volunteer at Sobell House Hospice’s charity shop and a councillor who has served for more than 20 years.

Members of the community gathered for the awards ceremony at Botley Primary School.

Terry Saxton was leader of the 15th Oxford Scouts from 1983 until he retired this year.

After being named Community Group Leader of the Year, the 74-year-old from Botley said: “I’ve had awards in the past, but this one means a lot to me because it has been given to me by my community.”

Marina Bennett, who has run the over-60s lunch club for 40 years, scooped the prize for Long-term Volunteer of the Year.

She said: “The lady who started it all, Jean Cole, passed away and we wanted to make sure that we continued the club because it had been going for so long.

“I do enjoy running it – the best bit is always when people come up to you and say that ‘was a lovely meal’.”

The Botley Youth Club got the top award of the night as Community Group of the Year.

Judy Bolder, from Stanley Close, has volunteered at the club for the past four years.

She said: “It is absolutely amazing that we won because Darren Blase, who set all this up, worked so hard to get this off the ground.

“He started it five years ago and it has just gone from strength to strength.

“At the end of last year we had between eight and 10 members, but we extended the age limit and now we have between 65 and 70 members.”

The youngest winners of the night were 14-year-old Charlie Gresswell and Megan Cunningham, both pupils at Matthew Arnold School, for Young Volunteer of the Year.

After trying to volunteer at the Sobell House charity shop when they were 12, the two students returned aged 14 with permission slips from their parents.

Charlie said: “I thought it would be a good thing to do and it is helping charity.

“I just think it is nice to speak to people and we do things like tagging the clothes.

“We are there every Thursday afternoon for an hour without fail.”

The Friends of Raleigh Park won Best Conservation Group, while Sam Whitehead, a teacher at Botley School, won Favourite Member of Staff.

Botley and North Hinksey Community website team won the award for Online Activity. Briony Newport, who served as a district councillor and parish councillor for more than 20 years, was awarded Retired Volunteer of the Year.

For its support in the West Way Concern Community Group, Cafe Aloha was awarded Best Business Supporting the Community. Witchcraft was named Best Art Group and the Oxford RFC Best Sports Group.