HARDWORKING volunteers have been praised for their efforts in ensuring the success of two key events in Dunbar.

The town’s Civic Week celebrations returned earlier this summer, after being scaled back due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Meanwhile, members of the town’s Christmas lights team are busy preparing for the switch-on at the beginning of the festive period.

Pippa Swan, Dunbar Community Council chairwoman, highlighted at the group’s annual general meeting last week the efforts of those involved.

Mrs Swan said: “Our Civic Week team worked throughout the year to give us one of the greatest Civic Weeks ever.

“We are hugely grateful to Eileen Moore for everything that she has done over the past years and wish her well as she steps aside from this particular aspect of volunteering.

“Sanchita Patjoshi, who we welcomed as a councillor last year, has taken over the reins.

“She is a powerhouse of endeavour and I know that Civic Week 2023 will be a triumph for her and for her established and evolving team of volunteers.

“We owe them a huge debt of gratitude for all that they have done.”

And she added: “Dunbar Christmas Lights remain a sub-committee of the community council.

“Led by Graham Adams, this volunteer team has also worked throughout the year.

“They meet every Wednesday in the Corn Exchange and have designed, repaired and planned all the lighting that we will shortly see go up in High Street.

“This team is also responsible for the summer bunting, which takes days to put up and take down.

“It is an enormous job and we are lucky that the lights team have been able to secure the volunteer support of the fire brigade and lifeboat team, as well as many other individuals, for the very significant work required to erect and dismantle the displays each year.”

Mrs Swan also paid tribute to a member of the Christmas lights team, who died earlier this summer.

She described John Band as “a key Christmas lights team member” and said: “John was known to most of us.

“Although not a resident of the town, he gave hundreds of hours of his time to Dunbar Harbour as a trustee, and also to the lights team.

“His sudden death in July of this year shocked us all and he is sorely missed.”

Finally, Mrs Swan also praised the efforts of her colleagues, including Terry Prior, who is leading on an initiative on the future provision of health and social care in the town and wider ward.

She added: “Working with councillors Gill Wilson, Jacquie Bell and others, Terry has engaged with health professionals, care workers and others to capture our ambitions and has been an absolute terrier in his endeavour to secure active engagement with the Integrated Joint Board for NHS and Social Care services.

“It has been a significant struggle to have our voices heard.”