TWO well-known stalwarts who have served their communities for decades have received awards.

Dr Bill Cunningham, a retired GP in Corbridge who was chairman of the village’s Charlotte Straker Project for five years, and Dr Tom Kelsey, who has worked on conserving Hexham Abbey for the past 10 years, received the Paul Harris Fellowship from the Tynedale and District Rotary Club.

The award was started in 1957 to show appreciation to people who have contributed to Rotary clubs.

Dr Cunningham said: “The Rotary club has always been a great supporter of the progress of Charlotte Straker, and I was very pleased to receive the award.”

Dr Kelsey said: “I have been a member of Rotary for 20 years or so, initially in Scotland and now here. I have been involved in trying to give something back to the community.”