RENOWNED businessman and community stalwart Roger Chattaway is a big believer in supporting the towns and villages businesses operate in.
And for the past 40 years, he has been helping out with numerous community projects across Ulverston while also running successful hospitality business Chattaway Inns, which boasts The Rose and Crown and The Farmers in its portfolio of venues.
Roger is passionate about giving something back to the town which has helped make his pubs, hotels and restaurants such a success.
He is well-known for spearheading the annual Ulverston in Bloom competition, cleaning up litter and pulling out dead plants and volunteering at local festivals, among his many roles in the community.
In 2018, Roger was deservedly named Citizen of the Year at the Heart of Ulverston Awards - which will return for the first time in six years in 2024 - for his undying dedication to making the town a better place for all.
But in a touching moment of humility, Roger chose to share the accolade with the other two shortlisted nominees.
Roger said: “There’s so many outstanding people in Ulverston which make it an amazing place to live and run a business, and these people deserve their place in the spotlight and great credit for their efforts in improving the town.
“That is why I didn’t give a second thought to inviting the other nominees on stage with me to share the award so they too could enjoy their crowning moment, and to show that Ulverston is one big, united community.
“I’m so proud to call Ulverston my home and to work among the amazing people who go above and beyond every day to benefit others, and my hat goes off to all the great work these amazing individuals do.”
Roger was the last winner of the Citizen of the Year trophy at the Heart of Ulverston Awards, which make their long-awaited return on Thursday, May 16, at the Coronation Hall.
The awards celebrate the unsung heroes living and working in Ulverston through a total of 13 categories, and the news of the relaunched event has created a buzz across the town.
Roger is delighted to see the awards return after six years, with Chattaway Inns sponsoring the Outstanding Courage Award which will be awarded to an inspirational person who has battled the odds and displayed extraordinary bravery in the face of adversary.
He said: “When I found out the Heart of Ulverston Awards were returning, I was over the moon because it is an excellent event which showcases how kind, talented and supportive the people of our town really are.
“I would definitely recommend people nominate others they think are deserving of this great recognition, because being shortlisted in one of the categories is a great achievement in itself.”
Roger’s daughter Rebecca Athersmith, the operations manager at Chattaway Inns, is part of the awards steering group, and is delighted to play a part in this year’s event.
She said: “So many good people get missed for doing good things in Ulverston, and these are our unsung heroes. We don’t always hear the good things that people do so this is a chance to celebrate our local heroes at the Heart of Ulverston Awards.
“We see them daily in our job and these are the people that make Ulverston special.”
Nominations are being welcomed in the following 13 awards categories: Lifetime Achievement, Sports Performance of the Year, Employee of the Year, Teacher of the Year, Sports Volunteer of the Year, Business of the Year, Community Group of the Year, Outstanding Courage Award, Best Hospitality Venue, Business in the Community, Citizen of the Year, Helping Hand Award, and Apprentice of the Year.
To nominate somebody you think deserves special recognition go to www.heartofulverston.co.uk/nominate.
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