Peeblesshire News | News | Lottie is our top citizen

Friday, 5th December, 2008

Published: Friday, 3rd March, 2006 13:16

Lottie is our top citizen

LOTTIE Hunter jetted in from Australia on Monday night just in time to collect the Tweeddale Citizen of the Year award for 2005 24 hours later.

Lottie, from Blyth Bridge, was visiting her son Douglas and daughter Jeannie in Melbourne when she took the telephone call telling her she was the 2005 winner of the award.

“It was a real surprise, but a great honour to accept the award,” she said.

Lottie was honoured for her tireless devotion as a home help and home care assistant to many recipients, including the elderly and infirm and residents of sheltered housing.

For 25 years, she has attended to the domestic and shopping needs of sheltered housing residents and others in the West Linton, Carlops, Newlands and Kirkurd area

The award was presented by Councillor Alasdair Hutton, convener of Scottish Borders Council, who spoke of Lottie’s devotion to duty.

One early morning she was returning home from a dance at 2 a.m. when she saw a light in an old gentleman’s house. Because he had fallen out of bed the previous evening, she just thought she would call in to check if he was all right.

Lottie, who has now recovered from breast cancer, also raises thousands of pounds for cancer charities through breakfasts and coffee mornings.

She even took doors off her house and put furniture in the garage to make more room to raise money.

Last year, she raised over £1000 in one coffee morning alone in her own cottage to help Macmillan Cancer Care…and she ropes in her sisters and mother to help.

“You have a wonderful reputation for being willing to help anyone, enthusiastic, energetic and efficient, unfailingly cheerful, kind and thoughtful,” said Councillor Hutton.

Lottie was nominated for the award by two the people she cares for, and they said: “Lottie never varies in her cheery, thoughtful, kind and responsible attitude towards the many people in the community who know her.

“There is no doubt that every person, household and organisation which she attends feels the benefit of her presence.”

Lottie became the fourteenth winner of the award

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