Lib Dem Award for Hard-Working Councillor

8.59.03am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 6th Dec 2006

At their constituency dinner last Friday, Newbury Liberal Democrats presented the Jack Donovan award to Town Councillor Paul Walter for his outstanding contribution to Liberal Democracy. Guest speaker, Chris Huhne, the Liberal Democrat MP for Eastleigh and the party's Environment Spokesperson, made the presentation (see attached photo).

The award, which was being presented for the first time since the millennium, is named after one of the chief architects of the great Liberal revival in West Berkshire in the 1970s. It is given to any Newbury Liberal Democrat who is thought to have made a particularly valuable and selfless contribution to the party's campaigns.

David Rendel, Parliamentary Spokesperson for Newbury Liberal Democrats, commented: "Paul has worked immensely hard for our party in West Berkshire since the 1980s. We are delighted to have had the opportunity to honour this commitment publicly. Paul's outstanding characteristic is that he does not just work when he is himself the candidate. He works at least as hard for other Liberal Democrat candidates as well, often putting in more hours than they do in their own campaigns". He continued, "Paul is an excellent Town Councillor and has done a superb job of representing the people of Victoria ward".

Accepting the award, Paul Walter said, "It is very nice for my family to see that all the time I give up for the Lib Dems is appreciated. I really enjoy getting around Newbury with our leaflets. However, the main reason I do it is to push forward the principles for which the Lib Dems stand. Also, I am inspired to work hard by people like David Rendel and ordinary local people who share our beliefs and want to serve as councillors."