Volunteers recognised with awards at Leighton-Linslade civic service

At the service, held at All Saints Church on Sunday (March 8), mayor David Bligh presented 2026 Community Volunteer Awards to David Wood, to Rosemary Eggleton and to the family of Fiona Shillitto, who died in 2025.

All three had been nominated by a fellow resident for giving more than five years of voluntary service to benefit the town.

David Wood was nominated for being instrumental in setting up the Leighton Buzzard Voluntary Patient Transport group and his continuing volunteer support as both a call handler and a driver. The group has become a vital resource enabling vulnerable and elderly patients to attend medical appointments at local hospitals. David also has a key voluntary role with the Leighton Buzzard Narrow Gauge Railway.

Rosemary Eggleton was nominated for being the founder of The Lighthouse facility, which offers mental health support to residents. From a small support group in her own home, the service has grown as Rosemary fought for funding to enable the Lighthouse to provide much needed community support for local residents. Rosemary also supports other charities and is well known and loved for her giving nature.

Fiona Shillitto was nominated for a range of voluntary work focused on the environment and sustainability, including work with the Friends of Knolls Wood and in establishing local events such as clothes swishing and charity coffee mornings. She also supported the Great Big Green Week, established an eco-shop and organised litter picking events, as well as raising money for a range of charities.

The civic service provided the perfect occasion to present these awards, as well as celebrating all aspects of the Leighton-Linslade community.

Readings were given by Deputy Lieutenant Mark Hardy, High Sheriff Camilla King and by the town mayor, Councillor Bligh, in a service which included an anthem performed by the All Saints Church Choir and a piece by the Leighton Young Singers. The Bedfordshire Band of the Royal British Legion played to accompany two hymns as well as performing The March from The Magic Flute.

The church was well attended by dignitaries from surrounding towns and parishes, representatives of the council and other community and voluntary organisations, friends and family of the award recipients, uniformed groups, cadets and residents, as well as High Sheriff of Bedfordshire Camilla King. Councillor Bligh would like to thank all those who attended the service and in particular, the Reverend Prebendary David MacGeoch as well as everyone else at All Saints Church and Matt Quick for leading a guard of honour.

A town council spokesperson said: "The council is aware that a huge number of people volunteer across Leighton Buzzard and Linslade, making a real difference to many people’s lives. If volunteering is something you might be interested in doing, why not visit websites such as the town council, Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity or Community Voluntary Service Bedfordshire for possible opportunities?"

The council will be welcoming nominations for the 2027 awards between June – October. Full details can be found on its website.