A LIFETIME'S work serving her community has landed a Yeadon woman a top award.

Sprightly 81-year-old Nellie Booth is a life member of Yeadon Amateurs following her work over the last 40 years, has served 35 years with the Yeadon Charities, supported the Royal National Lifeboat Institute for 20 years and has been a loyal member of Yeadon Darby and Joan for at least 20 years.

And despite recent ill health, she was still to be found on the door collecting tickets for Yeadon Amateurs production of Oklahoma last week.

And a nomination form her friend, Mrs Janette Hattersley, has led to Mrs Booth becoming the February winner of a Wharfedale Community Oscar, which recognises the unsung heroes of our villages and towns.

The awards scheme, which this newspaper runs monthly in association with Cutlers Bar and Brasserie, of Burley-in-Wharfedale, and Paul Wilkinson Photography, of Ilkley, is selecting a winner every month during this millennium year.

Mrs Booth was selected by Wharfedale Newspapers editor-in-chief Mel Vasey and Rick Hodgson of Cutlers.

She wins a meal for two at Cutlers and a framed certificate. She will also go forward with last month's winner Tom Sumner of Burley and with all the future monthly winners to the final judging at the end of the year. The overall winner receives a photo shoot, with Paul Wilkinson - a prize worth £375.

She said: "I don't do it for accolades, I do it for the company and because I like talking to people. It keeps me young and I am very young at heart, and somebody has to cheer people up.

"I particularly enjoy the theatre - it is my life. I don't consider myself to have done anything special, but I do believe in living my life to the full and will be taking a bus on Yeadon Charities' trip to Fleetwood this year."

Her friend Mrs Hattersley said the award was richly deserved. "I have known Nellie for many years and I've always been very impressed by her willingness to help others," she said.

"In her younger days she entertained in concert parties, giving pleasure to many. She is so selfless and community-spirited and always has a smile and a word for everyone.

"The 'Oscar' is a pleasant reward for her lifetime's work, so freely and pleasantly given."

Mel Vasey, editor-in-chief of Wharfedale Newspapers, said: "Nellie's lifetime of service to a variety of causes makes her a thoroughly deserving winner of our February award. It is amazing that at this time of her life she still has the energy and willingness to continue to put so much into her community."

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