New award is tribute to Bridgnorth Sue's life

Sue Coyne was loved by all who knew her so it came as a huge shock when she died in 2011, aged 60.

While working as a dinner lady and caretaker at St Mary's Bluecoat School in Bridgnorth, Sue also held down numerous volunteer jobs, finding her calling in working with children.

Such was her impact on Low Town that The Grove and Lodge Farm Partnership has launched the Sue Coyne MBE Citizenship Award in her honour.

The group is now looking for parents and carers, grandparents and family members to nominate a pupil from a Bridgnorth primary school who has achieved something special in their own right.

The youngster may have helped someone with a disability, taken on a caring role or simply helped someone less fortunate than themselves.

Pauline Harris, who was a close friends of Sue's and is a member of the partnership, said "Sue was very highly respected by the local community and brought so much happiness and achievement into the lives of those she had contact with.

"Her husband Brian was really touched to learn a Sue Coyne Citizenship Award 2015 had been created in her memory.

"The creation of such an award will ensure all the good work she did with children for so many years will never be forgotten.

"The award is open to any pupil and is not based on any school achievements."

Sue began volunteering at Red Cross Club in Innage Lane when her daughter, Stacy, had joined at the age of eight – and she was soon running it.

She transferred the base from Innage Lane to St Mary's School and numbers increased from eight to 143 members.

After the Red Cross clubs were closed across the country, Sue began running Tuesday Club for children in its place.

Soon Thursday Club was launched for pupils at St Mary's and then Friday Club, in conjunction with police, to keep teenagers with antisocial behaviour orders out of trouble. Sue also resurrected the Bridgnorth Beavers, a sports club for children with disabilities, and ran play schemes over the school holidays with the town council.

When awarded the MBE, she refused to go to Buckingham Palace because only three people could travel with her. Instead she took a bus to Shirehall with 40 friends to pick up the award, although she never understood why having fun with children was worthy of an MBE.

Husband Brian said: "Sue was a very special lady who could have done anything she wanted to. What she did do she did to the best of her ability.

"The only person who didn't realise what a special person she was, was herself. She was highly respected by adults and children alike throughout Bridgnorth."

A letter will be sent out to all parents with details of the citizenship award and how to enter. The finalists will be whittled down to three nominations, with a shield, badge and prize awarded to the winners.

Claire Gaskin, executive headteacher of the Mary's Bluecoat Primary and Worfield Endowed Primary School federation, said: "So often our children are judged on academic attainment. League tables and government targets often dominate.

"This special award will celebrate the young people who quietly go about making a positive difference to the lives of others in the Bridgnorth community."

Shropshire Councillor Christian Lea, chairman of partnership, said the award would be a fitting tribute to the tremendous work Sue had done did for so many years with young and disabled people in the town.

David Yates store manager at The Midcounties Co-operative Food in Bridgnorth, which is supporting the award, said: "We are proud to be sponsoring the award. This award will encourage people to play a bigger part in their community alongside us and give recognition to those who really champion the area."

Forms can be found on all school websites. The closing date is April 24. Send nominations to The Grove and Lodge Farm Partnership c/o Mrs Jayne Seal, St Mary's Bluecoat CE Primary School, Lodge Lane, Bridgnorth, WV15 5EQ or email to suecoy necitizenshipaward@stmarysbc.co.uk