An East Devon town has named its Citizen of the Year, its annual ritual of recognising the efforts of a selfless resident.
Sidmouth Rotary Club and Sidmouth Town Council awarded Sylvia Brownlee the accolade for her various community-focused roles.
The two organisations said that Ms Brownlee’s efforts in organising major celebrations, including the 80th Anniversary of VE Day in May last year, meant she deserved the Citizen of the Year Award for 2025.
Ms Brownlee, who received the award at a ceremony hosted at the town’s Victoria Hotel on 25 March, was also the secretary of the Sidmouth Chamber of Commerce for 17 years and worked hard to save Sidholme Music Room for the community.
She is also known as being integral to Sidmouth Hospice at Home concerts and Sidmouth Market Place street parties.
Sidmouth Rotary Club president, David Hodge, and the chair of the town council, Councillor Hilary Nelson, jointly presented her with a certificate and an engraved Dartington vase.
The Citizen of the Year is a title bestowed every year by the Sidmouth Rotary Club.
The accolade recognises one of the town and surrounding Sid Vale communities’ unsung heroes who has significantly improved town life during the previous year.
The award organisers highlighted Sylvia’s other community activities, including her foundation and secretarial duties of the Sampson Society to appreciate and promote the architectural accomplishments of Sidmouth’s R W Sampson, and her work as a Brownies’ Brown Owl.
Ms Brownlee thanked the Sidmouth Rotary Club for the award, saying that she was honoured and thrilled to receive it.
She thanked the Rotary Club for the work it does in the community and reminded everyone that the Citizen of the Year competition honours not just the people who win the award, but the hundreds of people across the community who go out of their way to volunteer and to help.
Ms Brownlee’s recognition will continue as her name will be inscribed on the board of honour at the town council offices.
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