East Lothian Courier | News | Community award is just as good as my CBE, says Sandy

Tuesday, 6th January, 2009

Published: Thursday, 21st February, 2008 09:00

Community award is just as good as my CBE, says Sandy

GIFFORD pensioner Sandy Boggon has been recognised by his friends and neighbours after nearly 40 years spent “selflessly” working for the community.

Sandy, 83, of Walden Drive, was presented with the Lawrence Beveridge Award by Brian Douglas, chairman of Gifford Community Association, at the village hall last Wednesday. . . then said it meant as much to him as his CBE.

The award was created by the Association after Lawrence Beveridge, a much-loved local man and very good friend of Sandy’s, passed away suddenly a few years ago.

A former employee with the Department of Agriculture, Sandy has devoted endless hours of his free time to the community after moving to Gifford 37 years ago.

Gifford Horticultural Society, East Lothian Beekeepers’ Association, Gifford Golf Club and Yester Curling Club are among the groups to have benefited.

“It was a total surprise to find out I was getting the award and I was honestly astonished that I’d been nominated,” said Sandy, who received a CBE in 1985.

“As I said in my wee speech, this is the second award I have won in my entire life and I am treating them with equal importance.”

The father-of-five and grandfather-of-eight was nominated for the Lawrence Beveridge Award by members of Gifford Horticultural Society, where he has enjoyed two terms as president.

Every year, Sandy and his wife, Beth, store 20 tonnes of compost in their driveway for the Horticultural Society, for distribution to other green-fingered villagers.

Despite undergoing a hip replacement last December, Sandy is still organising this mammoth task this year.

Ian Blundell, Horticultural Society treasurer, described Sandy as one of the villagers who “really held together the fabric of the community”.

“We believe that over the years he has, and still is, selflessly and tirelessly serving this community despite his age, when many of his lesser peers have retired.”

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