Dave Checkley, Jim Gaskins, Kerry Rowe, Mandy Gaskins are Villagers of the Year 2024

The decision over who should become Villager of the Year 2024 was reached by each parish councillor ranking the 12 nominations on their merit and then totalling a final score. The outcome was to confirm Dave Checkley, Jim Gaskins, Kerry Rowe, Mandy Gaskins as Villagers of the Year; in second place was Becky Makepeace and in third place was David Noon.

The list of nominations is attached below.

It has been really encouraging to see so many people take an interest in building our community by making these nominations. It also gives me great pleasure in saying a great big THANK YOU to all the people who were nominated for giving up their time and their hard work and dedication in making life in our wonderful community even better.

Howard Collerson (Parish Council Chairman)

Bill Biddle For help putting bins out, sorting recycling, mowing my lawn, helping fix things in the garden, house and car. He is a model neighbour and member of the community in Stockton.

Jo Brough For her ongoing dedication to the provision of Scouting in the village.

Bec and Juan Celebrian-Mitchell A husband and wife team who have supported scouts, giving free Spanish lessons open to all, and now trying to raise awareness and make changes to the dangerous traffic situation in our village.

Stuart Hemmings Our wonderful Postman who watches out for people on his daily round as well as being cheery & having time for everyone. I feel he goes beyond his normal call of duty.

Josie’s Place/ Dorne Jones Dorne has done such a fantastic job of bringing Josie’s cafe to the village. The cafe is such a vibrant friendly place for all members of the community to go to and Dorne and her staff are so welcoming.

Helen Kittendorf For all the work she does on the Village Hall committee, especially the catering at events.

Toni & Toby Leeman For their volunteering to the Scouts group, specifically the Beavers and Cubs group. They give their own time every single week, not expecting anything in return, benefiting dozens of kids of Stockton and surrounding area.

Becky Makepeace For her dedication to supporting families in the village.

Seb Neale For helping the Nelson Club voluntarily with their maintenance etc. If anyone needs any help at home he is the first to offer up his services. He has helped villagers in emergency situations and with his background in the army he is good in a crisis.

David Noon He clears the path this side of The Hill throughout the year in bad weather too and has done so for many years. In doing so makes the path safer to use.

Rachel Stubbings For not only organising some fab events at the Nelson Club for adults and children of the village, but she also helps out on the PTA for the School

Dave Checkley, Jim Gaskins, Kerry Rowe, Mandy Gaskins For all their hard work keeping the church yard tidy. It’s looking so much better than it has in years. They transformed a well-overgrown churchyard to a very tidy, good-looking area using their own equipment until the whole area was done