Nominations are being sought from Finchampstead residents for someone who has made a difference in the village.
Each year the trophy, in memory of Colonel Alfred Stowell Jones, is awarded to recognise a significant voluntary contribution by a person or persons to the community in Finchampstead.
Colonel Jones was awarded the Victoria Cross by Queen Victoria in 1858 for his part in capturing a 9lb field piece during one of the battles of the Indian Mutiny.
In later life he and his wife lived at Ridge Cottage, Finchampstead, now the site of Dell House.
In June 1913, the couple celebrated their golden wedding anniversary, and villagers clubbed together to buy them a silver-gilt lidded bowl supported by three dolphins.
Colonley Jones died in 1920 at the age of 88, and is buried in the churchyard at St James Church.
In 1984 the couple’s granddaughter, Ruth de Courcey-Ireland, gave the bowl to the Finchampstead Society as a trophy to be presented annually.
With the closure of the society, it was decided that the Finchampstead Parish Council will make the award going forwards.
Nominees should be a person or persons that have made an outstanding voluntary contribution to the Finchampstead Community.
The nominee[s] could be an individual(s) from outside the Finchampstead area, but the nominator must be a Finchampstead resident.
Nominations close on January 31, 2025.
You can nominate through www.finchampstead-pc.gov.uk/jones-vc-trophy-award-2.
