Civic Cups Presentation April 2022

For the past seventy-nine years, the Rotary Club of Whitley Bay has been recognising the outstanding achievements of some of North Tyneside's young people with the awarding of a Civic Cup to each individual.

This was once again celebrated on 5th April at a special ‘Civic Cups Evening’ at the Whitley Bay Golf Club.
The awards were presented by the Chairman of North Tyneside Council, Councillor Davey Drummond. There were two winners from each school:- Monkseaton High School - Paisley Marshall and Sarah Vince and from Whitley Bay High School, Millie Brydon and Douglas Gauld.

All the winners outlined to club members and guests why their school had nominated them for these special awards and club President Liz Hayes said, 'I am delighted to welcome Cllr Davey Drummond and his Consort Julie Drummond and to the staff from Monkseaton High, Joanne Suddes and Paula Marshall with their students Paisley Marshall and Sarah Vince. Also, a very warm welcome to the staff from Whitley Bay High, Steve Wilson and Ankita Lawson with their students Millie Brydon and Douglas Mould. Once again, the nominated students have made amazing contributions to our community this year, so let’s sit back and listen to what they have to tell us.’

First up was Monkseaton High:

• Sarah Vince – Sarah is very keen on sport and in particular, cricket. She started playing at the age of six and was sent for trials at Northumberland County Club when aged eight. A year later she was accepted and, on her debut, took a wicket with her first ball! Later in her cricketing career she played for Bates Colliery and after a lengthy injury trained in softball as an alternative game playing for Northern Diamonds. In addition, she helped to coach the team where she has been able to learn many new skills including supporting others with their mental attitudes.

• Paisley Marshall – Paisley was the school character telling us all what a pain he was in Year 9 and that school didn’t really suit him!!
He then proceeded to tell us all the amazing activities he’d been involved in which ranged from running a car washing enterprise which raised £2,500 via Facebook, investing in stocks and shares, (in his mother’s name!) and at the age of 16 as his paper round became redundant, (with the loss of a £100 per month), he invested his time creating his own CV, securing work placement at a carpet company and at Newton Hall, in the function suite. In addition to all this, he has been helping in a local Food Bank, believing if you can’t give money, you can give your time.
Paisley’s passions have now developed into all things farming and he is planning to go to agricultural college after recently securing his Tractor Licence, which he has already been putting to good use on local farms.

Whitley Bay High School:

• Douglas Gauld – Douglas has been helping out in the Marden Quarry Centre, which is a centre for young people who have ‘issues’ with their lifestyles.
He has been a keen swimmer for over 11 years and is a member of Monkseaton All Star. They won the Year 5 Gala, and in addition he has been supporting the group in his spare time with their training regime.
Douglas is a keen participant of the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme and is currently taking his silver award; this involves a three day ‘unknown’ destination hike which he hopes to complete on his return from Mexico this summer. Douglas is joining an M10 group in Mexico where a team of young people will build a cottage house for a homeless family.

• Millie Brydon – Millie has just completed a six-month stint working part time for the Red Cross having recently completed a 100km run last October for charity. She spends much of her time making woolly toy characters and hats which she sells on the open market before donating the proceeds to the Bay Foodbank, where she helps on a regular basis. She is also very keen on supporting the RSPCA with any extra cash.
Millie is also an enthusiastic charity shop worker and plans to continue this voluntary activity when she stays on at school to enter the sixth form to study A level mathematics and further mathematics…something President Liz was delighted to hear, being a mathematician herself.

After the presentations Cllr. Davey Drummond added, ‘I am delighted to be able to represent North Tyneside Council on this special night and also to thank the Rotary Club for sponsoring the evening, which I gather is now in its 40th plus year. I think the young peoples’ achievements have been quite outstanding, especially when we consider what we were doing at their age!....so well done to you all.’

Each of the students received a cash award, certificate and an engraved cup.
After the presentation staff and students stayed for an evening meal enjoying a more informal end to their visit.

Later that week, Cllr Drummond emailed the club to thank him for some photographs which we sent to him and he said, "Thank you very much for the photographs and your kind words. It was both an honour and a pleasure to be able to attend and present awards to such a dedicated group of young people. Thank you so much for allowing me to contribute to your evening."


If you would like to know more about our Rotary Club please do not hesitate to contact us through or Website, Facebook or telephone – 07419 736989.