2012 winners

Please see above for the winners of 2012 and information about why they were nominated.

Alan Tyrell - January winner

'Coventry Kid' Alan Tyrrell was a boxer of high standards in his youth, and he has continued to fight for good causes to improve facilities in his community for almost 50 years.

He encouraged residents to apply for New Deal for Communities (NDC) funds for the Wood End, Henley Green, Manor Farm and Deedmore Road (WEHM) area and, once achieved, sat on various task groups to make sure the money was spent wisely and priorities and initiatives were met.

Alan is chair of the Residents' Association, a member of the Street Pride judging panel, and was also on the NDC project board for four years. He has been instrumental in having improved road markings, speed humps and bus shelters installed, and having vandalised garages demolished in the area. He is also an active member of his local church and keeps the church grounds and gardens well-maintained.

His time commitment and care for his community is typical of Alan. He regularly keeps in contact with his neighbours and does their gardening, runs errands and gives them lifts to the local shops or to keep doctors' appointments.

Alan is a shining example of community engagement, promotes social cohesion and encourages others to take part. He inspires people by his behaviour and deserves to be called a Good Citizen of Coventry.

Arthur Johnson - March winner

Arthur Johnson has worked tirelessly for his local community for a number of years, giving his time, and his considerable energy, freely.

He was asked to take on the position of treasurer for the Canley Community Centre on a temporary basis in April 1951 - he will complete his 61st year in the role at the end of the month!

A decorator by trade, he was also a useful table tennis player in his youth and represented his country at international level - he has since brought his skills and enthusiasm to benefit people in his local community.  

For his commitment and dedication, Arthur Johnson deserves to be called a Good Citizen of Coventry.

Ralph Butcher and Dave Moorcroft - July winners

Ralph Butcher 

Ralph Butcher is very passionate about the environment, local history and community in Whitley. He has had a significant impact on how Whitley looks today, making a stand to alter the plans for London Road and preserve the trees in the middle of the road near the Royal Oak pub.

Ralph was determined to keep an area of wildflowers in the meadow near his home in Abbey Road, and many of the trees that can now be seen in the wood were both grown and planted by Ralph - whose only reward was to think he had done something to help his community.

As well as his passion for the environment, Ralph has also played a key role in researching and uncovering Whitley's local history. As one of the founding figures of the Whitley Local History Group, he helped gather a large amount of information about history in the area, including the tragic incident in October 1940 when one of Coventry's bomb disposal teams was killed on Whitley Common when a device they were attempting to defuse detonated. He was also involved in dedicating a memorial to these brave men so that they will never be forgotten.

Ralph is now 80 but he is still very active in the community and shows a large amount of commitment and involvement. For his decades of commitment, the impact he has made on the lives of others, the outstanding achievements he has had in serving the community of Whitley and the way he has made people feel good about their area, Ralph Butcher is a deserving recipient of the Good Citizen Award.

Dave Moorcroft 

David Robert Moorcroft is globally known for his athletic achievements in the late-1970s and 1980s. Competing in the Commonwealth Games he won gold medals in 1978 over 1,500 metres, and in 1982 over 5000 metres. He also finished in medal positions at the European Athletics Championships, and has held records at world, European, and British levels - indeed, he still holds the British record for the fastest 3,000 metres in a time of 7:32.79.

He served as the Chief Executive of UK athletics from 1997 to 2007, and received an MBE in 1983 and an OBE in 1998 for services to British sport. He developed the Coventry Sports Foundation being the Chief Executive from 1981 to 1995, and remains a Trustee. The Foundation now owns and operates three major sports facilities and numerous related projects serving communities in Coventry. It has attracted over £20 million of capital and £8 million of revenue funding.

However, we are here today to recognise his achievements to get Coventry's name recognised on a worldwide scale. Since 2006 Dave has been working to maximise the opportunities across Coventry and Warwickshire arising from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Covering the areas of sport, business, tourism, culture, education and training camps, Dave is the overall 2012 Ambassador for Coventry and has been instrumental in supporting the city at a local, regional, national and international level.

He has used his considerable talent and influence in making sure Coventry and Warwickshire  achieved the largest engagement in London 2012 compared to any other city outside London.

He is proud to be known as a 'Coventry Kid' and he is happy to share his pride in Coventry with the rest of the world. As a result of his drive and commitment, Dave Moorcroft deserves to be recognised as a Good Citizen of Coventry. 

Dorothy Senior - September winner

Dorothy Senior arrived in England from Jamaica in 1961 and moved to Coventry a year later. She worked at the GEC for 20 years before getting a job in the Education Department at the Council in 1986 until her retirement in 2003.

Dorothy's volunteering spirit is really something to be admired.  She has been involved in many organisations and events in Hillfields for over 25 years - being a founder member of WATCH aka - Working Actively to Change Hillfields - and the Police Liaison Group.  She has been a driving force in the Hillfields Environmental Group, Health Action Group, Hillfields Core Working Group and is also a governor at Hillfields Children's Centre.

She has been recognised for her community work by the High Commissioner of Jamaica (2000), the Coventry Telegraph (2001) and the Home Office (2005).

She attends as many events as she can - being there at the opening of the Sidney Stringer Academy and the City of Coventry Health Centre.  Dorothy will man stalls and put a shift in when Hillfields puts on its Summer Fair in Primrose Hill Park or its Christmas celebrations in the village square.

Dorothy is well known for her dedication, her tireless hard work, her public spirit and easy-going nature. She will always take time to support anybody - no matter where they come from.  Dorothy is incredibly proud of Hillfields and its people and has seen so many changes over the 50 years she has lived in the area. Even when times were tough she did not give up on wanting to help improve the area. She even gave up her home to make way for the new City College now on the site of her old flat!

She always has a kind word for those that need it and is not afraid to offer advice and constructive criticism, particularly to her local councillors where it will help move things forward!

To many people Dorothy really is 'Lady Hillfields.' She can now also add the well-deserved accolade of Coventry Good Citizen!

Terry Harvey - December winner

Terry Harvey, who retired in 2005, is a champion for the people - all his adult life he has helped the people in his community in a variety of ways.

He regularly attends ward forums and the safer Neighbourhood Group representing the views of the community and making sure that their concerns are resolved, working with both councillors and the police. He updates display boards on the history of the Tile Hill North estate which he started in the '50s, and attends events which promote the area.
 
Terry is well-respected in Tile Hill and regularly receives invitations to judge garden competitions, present medals to young children for reading, or cook at barbecues - which he carries out with great skill.
 
He is a very caring person and looks out for his elderly neighbours by cutting grass, delivering newspapers, changing light bulbs. He has even built a ramp for a disabled neighbour. He worked with the Young People's group to create the murals in Jardine Crescent and the boxing mural alongside the library. 
 
He has been a member of the Massey Ferguson Running Club for almost 30 years and is a committee member and subscriptions secretary. His running days have stopped now but he offers his services as steward - putting up signs and setting out the course.
 
Although a stroke affected his vision it did not affect his voluntary activities - he now helps to organise outings and lunches and collect 'subs' for the Stroke Club! He also recently trained as a walk leader and conducts walks for the patients from the Medical Centre.
 
Terry Harvey is a very giving and caring person and fully deserves to be called a Good Citizen of Coventry.