04 Feb Three Lifetime Award winners celebrated for their dedication to Torbay’s communities

(L to R) Carolyn Morgan, Major Ron Goodwin & Tanny Stobart, winners of the Lifetime Award, presented by Jim Parker, co-organiser & co-host, on behalf of sponsor Torbay Weekly

ACROSS the Bay, community workers and volunteers are striving to make our neighbourhoods and our lives richer.

Some have dedicated their lives to improving the lot of those around them, and we were staggered by some of the stories submitted for the Torbay Community Champion Lifetime Achievement Awards.

After much debate, the judges managed to narrow the nominations down to a shortlist of three but couldn’t then decide between them, choosing instead to honour each of them. And deservedly so.

We have already written about one of those Lifetime Achievement Award winners, Tanny Stobart, because she was voted the overall Torbay Community Champion of 2025 for her work advocating for children, particularly through Play Torbay, which has supported hundreds of young people and their families for more than 25 years.

But also in the running was fellow Brixham resident, Carolyn Morgan, who arrived in the town back in 1988 and immediately set about looking for people and organisations to support, something she has done ever since.

She became treasurer of the Brixham Male Voice Choir, a post she held for 27 years, only stepping down last year. She was made a life member in 2006 and was also honoured by becoming the Choir president.

Her interest in gardening also led her to join the Brixham Horticultural Society in 2007, and she served as their treasurer for 10 years. Prior to that, she served as treasurer of the Brixham Old People’s Association, with a special interest in Laywell Residential Home until its closure.

For many years, she was also involved with the Torbay Branch of Parkinson’s UK, taking on the role of events officer and serving as vice-chairman.  Throughout her life in Brixham, she has been active at Fore Street Methodist Church, serving as a Pastoral Visitor, Communion Steward, and on the Church Council.

But that is not all. She organised trips to other parts of the country that allowed Brixham people to get away for short breaks, has been an active member of the Diabetic Association of Torbay and was rewarded for her work with the Merchant Navy Association (Exeter branch) with a life membership.

The other person to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award was Paignton’s Major Ron Goodwin MBE, who stepped in to save the local branch of the Royal British Legion from closure 23 years ago and has worked tirelessly for them ever since.

After the RBL club in Paignton closed, he refocused the branch on its core objectives of remembrance, comradeship and welfare. Working entirely alongside fellow volunteers, he also raised nearly £50,000 a year during the annual Poppy Appeal, making it one of the most active and successful branches in the country.

It is estimated that the Paignton branch of the RBL, under Major Ron’s inspirational leadership, has raised around 1 million pounds for the Poppy Appeal whilst also tackling loneliness amongst those who have served and providing support and friendship to those dealing with the impacts of military service and ensuring that the next generation hears the stories of remembrance.

His nominator summed up Major Ron’s work by saying: “He has recently stepped down after 25 years as President of the Paignton RBL Branch and a Lifetime Achievement Award would recognise not only his work to support veterans, their families and Paignton overall, but also inspire others who may dedicate themselves to a cause or organisation for many years to give back to the community and those who have supported them”

When we launched the Lifetime Achievement Award, we asked for nominations of people who have worked within their community for many years, to recognise their long-standing dedication to improving the quality of life in Torbay.

Tanny Stobart, Carolyn Morgan and Major Ron Goodwin have delivered on every level and deserve every honour, accolade and thanks from a grateful Torbay community.

Riviera FM recently joined with South Devon Radio to become Torbay Radio, and my community champion show is now on from 9-11 am on Tuesday mornings. Join me next week when I chat to our Volunteer of the Year, Paul Duchemin from South West Blood Bikes. Listen on 107.9FM, online at torbayradio.co.uk, on DAB or on a smart speaker, just ask the likes of Alexa to “play Torbay Radio 107.9” (and yes, you do need to say the “107.9” as well, or you’ll end up with a different radio station playing!)