TWO inspirational Dunbar residents have been rewarded for their efforts at Dunbar Community Council’s annual awards ceremony.

Sophie Kaszuba was presented with the Bowe Cup, while Elaine O’Brien was honoured with the Community Council Award at the event on Monday night.

The Bowe Cup goes to youngsters in the town who have achieved something exceptional and stood out, while the second award celebrates those that have made an “exceptional contribution” to the community.

Stephen Bunyan, chairman of the community council, said Sophie had fought off some hard competition and her contribution was “widespread”.

The certificate handed to the 17-year-old said: “Sophie is a peer supporter with Enable Scotland, volunteering consistently and reliably to help young people with additional needs to meet their full potential. Her voluntary work this year has earned her the Saltire Summit Award.

“A high-achieving sea cadet, she is currently the Lord Lieutenant’s cadet to the Lord Provost, who is the Lord Lieutenant of the City of Edinburgh.” The teenager, who recently finished up at Dunbar Grammar School, has been involved with the town’s Sea Cadets for the last seven years.

Now, she helps with the 10-12-year-olds in the group and their syllabus.

She described the award as “a surprise, a nice surprise”.

Meanwhile, Mrs O’Brien was similarly thankful after receiving the award.

She was a founding member of the town’s community council and has also been involved with a number of other different groups.

That ranges from being chairwoman of East Lothian Women’s Aid for 12 years, Clerk to the Board of Dunbar Parish Church for a decade, chairwoman of Dunbar Labour Party and also the first lady president of the town’s Rotary Club.

Mr Bunyan added: “Her long service as a volunteer has made a difference to many people in Dunbar and beyond and has proved an inspiration to others.” Mrs O’Brien told the 40-strong audience she had lived in the town all her life and “loved it with a passion”.

She added there were a number of other people in the community who felt similarly and helped to make Dunbar what it is.

The achievements of three other youngsters were also recognised, with certificates being presented.

Young Citizen Awards were handed over to Maria Lyle and Craig Thorburn, while a third certificate will also be passed on to Connor McLennan, who was unable to attend the event at the Town House.

Community councillor Isobel Knox spoke highly about all three of the teenagers, describing them as “indefatigable”.

Fourteen-year-old sprinter Maria has set world records in the T35 200m and T35 100m, smashing the old records in the process.

Meanwhile, 17-year-old Craig has been heavily involved with local radio and is getting ready to jet out to the United States of America and start a new adventure at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Finally, Connor was Dunbar Grammar School’s head boy and someone who also attracted a number of nominations from members of staff at the town’s secondary school.

He was not at the awards evening due to being involved with the preparations for the Queen’s Baton Relay, which took place the following day.