The vital role of people who help in the community has celebrated with a set of awards for three volunteers in three different organisations.

Kingston’s mayor Councillor Ian McDonald presented three community volunteers with their awards at a ceremony on Tuesday, April 20.

Fran O’Brien, 57, from New Malden founded Young and Disabled and Positively Artistic to fill a gap in provision for young disable people.

She said: “I do things because I enjoy doing them and I get a lot of pleasure out of them. I was very frustrated that a lot of disabled young people were at home not doing anything during the school holidays.”

Kingston Hospital Radio DJ Alan Baccolini was also praised for volunteering and fundraising at the hospital since 1976. He married his wife Sandy, another volunteer, in 1994 after they met while she was collecting requests for his show.

Jocelyn King, who has helped arrange transport for members Arthritis Care New Malden for 20 years, organising trips to places such as Kew Gardens, was also presented with a community award.