Community stalwart wins inaugural Dornoch award
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Dornoch stalwart Michael Banks has become the first ever recipient of a new award.
Veteran former community councillor Mr Banks was presented with the inaugural Dornoch Community Award last Wednesday.
The new honour – a handsome cup – was initiated by former Dornoch Community Council chairwoman and town provost Yvonne Ross.
Current community council chairman Patrick Murray said that Mr Banks, a retired roofer, well deserved the award.
“Michael has been an active member of the community all his working life,” he said. “He has frequently been on the ground floor of initiatives that have subsequently grown and prospered.
“He was a founder member of the team that started Festival Week and then of the team that started the Hogmanay Street Party.
“He was involved in Dornoch Cathedral’s 750 years’ celebrations staging ‘It’s a Knockout’.
“He has chaired the Christmas Lights group since 1998, raising funds through business and public sponsorship, and providing many days of his own time every year setting up and maintaining the long strings of lights.”
Mr Murray added: “Michael is humble about his achievements and when he was told that he would be the first to receive the Dornoch Community Award, he was most surprised and remonstrated that there were people far more worthy than himself to receive the award!
So he had to be assured that when his name was suggested to the Community Council the decision was absolutely unanimous.
“Needless to say, everyone thought he was exactly the right person to win the award.”
