By Sarah Newstead

Last updated 15:20, Thursday, 25 September 2008

WITH more than 50 years of unpaid work in the community under his belt, Lawrence Marshall knows a thing or two about what it takes to be a winning volunteer. The 73-year-old Silloth man was the runner-up in the Volunteer of the Year award at last year’s Cumbria Community Awards.

• Click here for a nomination form

Giving his time: ‘A friend said to me just last week ‘You know your trouble, Lawrence, you just can’t say no’’

He was first moved to help improve the lives of others after his brother, Ken, died of leukaemia 52 years ago.

“I always say that lady luck plays a part. My brother died when I was 21 and I’ve often wondered why it was him and not me.

“He was caught short and was very ill within months. That affected my decision to get involved with the community.”

Since then Lawrence, a former farm machinery sales and serviceman, has notched up an impressive list of ways in which his time makes his community a better place to be.

He organises the Silloth Luncheon Club, is deputy chairman of the Silloth Carnival, is the treasurer for the Silloth Community Bus and a trustee of Abbeytown’s Seadyke Charity and of the Silloth Nursing Home.

He is a judge at local ploughing competitions, is a show commentator for the Silloth Vintage Machinery Club, a sidesman for Christ’s Church in Silloth and also found the time to spend 11 years on Silloth town council and was the town’s mayor for two years.

“With the Luncheon Club, elderly people are picked up in the Silloth community bus once a week and our lady volunteers dish up for them. They are then taken back home,

“For some of these people it is possibly the only time they have been out of the house all week. It is very worthwhile. Originally I drove the bus but that had to stop at 70 because of the insurance.

“It’s not that big an effort, but if somebody does not do it, it folds.”

Lawrence said he has been involved with Silloth Carnival since “year dot” and believes such weekend events help bring all-important tourism into the town as well as providing fun for its residents.

Community spirit is important in making sure towns and villages stay not only prosperous, but close.

“I simply like to be involved, I enjoy it,” he added. “There’s nothing better than to go into that Luncheon Club and everyone is laughing and talking to each other. That is the reward.”

Lawrence believes a can-do attitude is a desirable quality in a volunteer. “A friend said to me just last week ‘You know your trouble, Lawrence, you just can’t say no’.”

But the main ingredient for being a great volunteer is a supportive family, according to Lawrence, a grandfather of three. “Because many of the meetings happen in the evening, you have to have a patient wife.”

He urged people across Cumbria to help thank those people and groups who give up their time to make your community a better place. “They should be recognised and this is an excellent way to do it.”

The awards, headed up by Cumbria County Council, have categories that aim to consider all of the different people, groups and organisations who make a real difference.

They can be posted out on request by calling 01228 612201.

Nominations close on Sunday, October 5.