Pam Barnes - March winner
Pam Barnes is a very caring person, her care for older people with disabilities is second to none, and she has always put their needs first.
She has been involved with the Coundon Care Centre Charity for over 20 years, and has been totally dedicated to caring for the most vulnerable members of the community. She works tirelessly to make the lives of others better.
Even after her beloved husband Wally died and Pam suffered a heart attack, as soon as she was well again she was up and running, giving her loving care to the older members who attend the Centre.
She raises funds to keep the centre running and was responsible for buying an adapted minibus to take the members for their day care. Pam will do anything to help those less fortunate, who all love her very much. Pam is most definitely a very special citizen.
Professor Yvonne H. Carter OBE DL MD FRCGP FMedSci - June winner
The remarkable career and achievements of Professor Yvonne Carter have already been widely recognised throughout the medical and academic world; today we are honoured that she has been able to join us as we pay tribute to these achievements and her unique contribution to our city over the past few years.
Yvonne is Dean of Warwick Medical School, Pro-Vice Chancellor at the University of Warwick and Vice Chair of University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust - combining these important roles, until very recently, with that of a working GP in one of the most deprived parts of the city.
In 2000 she received an OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours List for services to health service research, and during her career she has been awarded research grants and contracts for around £10million; has been a member of, or chaired, committees awarding funding for academic careers in health; and published many important research papers that have furthered our understanding of key areas of medical health. In May she was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant for the County of the West Midlands.
She was also the winner of the science award at the 2006 Confederation of British Industry Real Business First Women Awards - receiving the award for making her mark in the upper reaches of medicine.
Yvonne is a magnificent ambassador for Coventry, helping to raise its profile through the national and international reputation of the University of Warwick Medical School and the many other roles she holds in the region. Her work as a local GP has brought her into contact with hundreds of Coventry people who love and respect her for her skills, knowledge and the way she has cared for them over the past few years.
She is a tremendous role model for us all, but especially, perhaps, to other women. Yvonne's energy and commitment have helped her to become a leader in her field in the competitive areas of medical and academic research - and combine this with a happy family life and making an important contribution to her local community - even during illness.
Coventry is lucky to count her as a citizen of the city. She is a very special citizen, and we are delighted to be able to recognise this contribution officially today.
Bill MacDonald - September winner
Bill MacDonald has been raising money for people who are less fortunate than himself for many years.
He is always willing to help in whatever way he can; he uses his shop as a collection point so that the community can help worthy causes. His fundraising efforts over the years have exceeded £200,000. He has organised walkathons, dances and concerts involving local talent and also raffled a football signed by Celtic players and officials.
The money he has collected has been given to cancer sufferers to improve the quality of their lives. In particular for a young girl with liver failure and Lebers hereditary optic neuropathy, and to a father who suffered a coma whilst abroad.
Bill lives by the philosophy that there is always someone worse off than himself and his aim is to help as much as he can. Bill MacDonald is truly a Good Citizen!
Gabrielle Back - October winner
Gabrielle Back has dedicated her life to education and green issues.
For 34 years she has taught in schools in Coventry. She has been a governor of two schools, a health and safety representative and an education advocate.
Over the past 20 years she has devoted herself to promoting and raising awareness of environmental education and sustainability issues through her teaching and community work.
Since 1995 she has been the Honorary General Secretary of the National Association for Environmental Education, and worked with many other forums and community groups - all on a voluntary basis. She has chaired the Coventry and Warwickshire Green Network for many years and she set up the National Savers charity which campaigns for energy conservation and climate change.
Gabrielle has been a prime supporter of the local "Switch it Off" campaigns in Coventry and Warwickshire, and continues to enthuse her pupils to look after their environment. Generations of Coventry citizens yet to come will have reason to be indebted to Gabrielle.
Gabrielle Back truly deserves to be described as a Coventry Good Citizen!
Janet Colgrave - December winner
Janet Colgrave has managed the Risen Christ Day Centre in Wyken for 25 years.
Due to her excellent leadership, selfless dedication and sheer hard work the Centre has flourished to the point where today it provides a lifeline for dozens of elderly people in the area.
She is responsible for over 30 dedicated volunteers, including drivers and escorts who take more than 60 people to the Centre every day; she runs a lunch club for the over 65s; she oversees the Centre's annual holiday trip to the coast, daily entertainment and services, all of which improve the quality of life for the visitors to the Centre.
She will often take an elderly client to hospital and wait many hours to bring them home again and so helps to ease their suffering. She is always cheerful and ready with a smile.
Janet is more than the Centre manager, she is a friend to staff and clients alike - ever thinking of others before herself.
She has given so much to those whom she has helped that she truly deserves to be recognised as a Good Citizen of Coventry.