Our Annual Town Meeting was held on Tuesday 5th May 2026 in Sedgefield Parish Hall. Refreshments were provided to attendees as they listened to the meeting and presentations by County Cllr Chris Lines, County Cllr Ian Catchpole, Sedgefield Charities (by Anne Gladwin), Sedgefield Development Trust (by Janette Savage) and the local Police Team (PC Stephen Ward).
Cllr Jenny Haworth, on behalf of the Town Council, thanked the Mayor and his Consort Jaime for her support and hard work behind the scenes over the last two years.
The Mayor of Sedgefield, Peter Hinde, has raised over £4,800 during his term as Mayor 2025/26, focusing once again on building rapport with the vast variety of organisations and groups Sedgefield has to offer. Peter chose to give back exclusively to the community, without nominating a headline charity.
Congratulations to the following groups and organisations who received a donation from the Mayor this year:
1st Sedgefield Brownies, 1st Sedgefield Guide Company, 1st Sedgefield Scout Group, Handbell Ringers, Local History Group, Memory Café, Pittington Brass Band, Pop in Club, Rebecca Waddington Feral Cats, SCA (Medieval Fayre), Sedgefield Area Men’s Social, Sedgefield Out of School Fun Club, Sedgefield Rangers, Sedgefield Youth Club, Sedgefield in Bloom and Woodland & Wildlife Group.
Now onto the awards!
Our Citizen of the Year 2025 is…
Michael King.
You can’t talk about Michael without starting in St Edmund’s Church. Michael has been referred to with all manner of titles historically (albeit wrongly), but his true title is Lay Minister. It’s easy to see why his role is often mixed up as for many years, Michael juggled it all. But narrowing his impact down to the walls of St Edmund’s Church doesn’t do him justice. In addition to the services, the funerals and all the behind the scenes work inside the church itself, Michael leads the Carols on the Green at Christmas; Remembrance Service, Carol Services including the Mayor’s Carol Service with the wonderful joint schools choir and the service at the Snow Party; he takes communion to those unable to attend services; organises fundraising such as the Christmas Tree Festival; MC’s concerts, sets up at coffee mornings and so much more.
If you’ve ever seen Michael engaging with children during a community or school service, you’ll know just how incredible his bond with the younger generations can be. He is cherished by all organisations, community groups and families whom he supports through both the happiest and saddest of times.
When not in his role as Lay Minster, you can often find Michael at Ceddesfeld Hall where he’s a regular volunteer to help with functions and the running of the bar, especially when it comes to some of Sedgefield’s biggest events, like the Medieval Fayre and Beer Festival. Michael joins many other residents that make up the incredible volunteer team at SCA, always a friendly, warm and engaging presence.
Michael was first presented with his certificate during a Sunday service in Church, where it means most. Congratulations Michael!
We’re delighted to have another worthy name engraved on our Young Citizen of the Year shield this year too! The 2025 award was presented to…
Amelia Taylor.
Amelia is a student volunteer at Sedgefield Community College, playing a vital role at opening evenings in the art department. When she’s not volunteering, she’s rehearsing for something – the school choir or the next show. And when she’s not in school, Amelia’s free time has been taken up with being in Sedgefield Players Youth Section, Sedgefield Harriers, the former girls cricket team and more!
It’s in the 1st Sedgefield Brownie and Guide Units where Amelia’s compassion and dedication truly shine. As a youth leader, Amelia has become a trusted and reliable member of the team, offering her time every week to plan and delivery activities for the members. She has become a strong and positive role model, demonstrating kindness, fairness and respect in all that she does. This has been particular evident on a recent residential trip where she was the voice of guidance for many when it came to packing, settling in and feeling comfortable in an unfamiliar environment. Amelia planned activities to bring everyone together, fostering a warm and friendly environment.
At only 15, Amelia is already showing clear leadership potential and is a credit to her community. Congratulations and keep up the good work!
