Fifer given British Citizen Award for impact in community

Dennis Gowans has been given the award for services to volunteering and charitable giving.

Due to the current lockdown, the usual grand medal presentation ceremony at the Palace of Westminster is unable to take place. For only the second time in its history, Dennis and the remaining 26 medalists received their BCA medals by courier, together with video messages of congratulations together with an invitation to the House of Lords at a date yet to be determined, when it is safe to do so.

The British Citizen Award (BCA), in association with One-Stop, is now in its sixth year and recognises exceptional people who positively impact their communities.

Dennis has been volunteering with various groups in Crail for 10 years to improve life in the burgh. Dennis is heavily engaged in Crail Preservation Society (chairman), Crail Community Partnership (secretary), Crail Festival and Crail Folk Club. Dennis led fundraising efforts, for community consultation, community hall business plan development and purchase, and more recently Crowdfunding efforts that helped the community raise funds to purchase three tracts of land for environmental improvement from Fife Council - raising over £100,000 in total.

Dennis is regularly seen painting or repairing community equipment and benches, or participating in the teams that mow the community-run putting green, driving the elderly to medical appointments and delivering community newsletters. A recent organisational highlight was the parade through Crail when the Crail Coat of Arms was presented to the Community Council by The Rt. Hon. the Lord King on Arms and the restored 16th century doocot was opened by him.

As secretary of Crail Community Partnership - a charity formed and funded by the monies raised - Dennis works as a facilitator engaging with community groups to identify the challenges and future actions that can take place to improve the burgh.

Dennis was praised by local councillor, Linda Holt: “It is an exceptionally well-deserved award for an exceptionally modest man. Dennis has worked tirelessly for Crail for years and the great strides the community is making in the wake of its charrette are in no small measure down to him.”