Ralph Butcher and Dave Moorcroft - July winners
Ralph Butcher
Ralph Butcher is very passionate about the environment, local history and community in Whitley. He has had a significant impact on how Whitley looks today, making a stand to alter the plans for London Road and preserve the trees in the middle of the road near the Royal Oak pub.
Ralph was determined to keep an area of wildflowers in the meadow near his home in Abbey Road, and many of the trees that can now be seen in the wood were both grown and planted by Ralph - whose only reward was to think he had done something to help his community.
As well as his passion for the environment, Ralph has also played a key role in researching and uncovering Whitley's local history. As one of the founding figures of the Whitley Local History Group, he helped gather a large amount of information about history in the area, including the tragic incident in October 1940 when one of Coventry's bomb disposal teams was killed on Whitley Common when a device they were attempting to defuse detonated. He was also involved in dedicating a memorial to these brave men so that they will never be forgotten.
Ralph is now 80 but he is still very active in the community and shows a large amount of commitment and involvement. For his decades of commitment, the impact he has made on the lives of others, the outstanding achievements he has had in serving the community of Whitley and the way he has made people feel good about their area, Ralph Butcher is a deserving recipient of the Good Citizen Award.
Dave Moorcroft
David Robert Moorcroft is globally known for his athletic achievements in the late-1970s and 1980s. Competing in the Commonwealth Games he won gold medals in 1978 over 1,500 metres, and in 1982 over 5000 metres. He also finished in medal positions at the European Athletics Championships, and has held records at world, European, and British levels - indeed, he still holds the British record for the fastest 3,000 metres in a time of 7:32.79.
He served as the Chief Executive of UK athletics from 1997 to 2007, and received an MBE in 1983 and an OBE in 1998 for services to British sport. He developed the Coventry Sports Foundation being the Chief Executive from 1981 to 1995, and remains a Trustee. The Foundation now owns and operates three major sports facilities and numerous related projects serving communities in Coventry. It has attracted over £20 million of capital and £8 million of revenue funding.
However, we are here today to recognise his achievements to get Coventry's name recognised on a worldwide scale. Since 2006 Dave has been working to maximise the opportunities across Coventry and Warwickshire arising from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Covering the areas of sport, business, tourism, culture, education and training camps, Dave is the overall 2012 Ambassador for Coventry and has been instrumental in supporting the city at a local, regional, national and international level.
He has used his considerable talent and influence in making sure Coventry and Warwickshire achieved the largest engagement in London 2012 compared to any other city outside London.
He is proud to be known as a 'Coventry Kid' and he is happy to share his pride in Coventry with the rest of the world. As a result of his drive and commitment, Dave Moorcroft deserves to be recognised as a Good Citizen of Coventry.