Cecilia Hooley

Forever in our hearts...

Staff Awards
© 2010 Alastair Hooley
Site last published: 01/23/10

Excellence in Action Staff Awards


On the evening of 28 November 2007 I attended the Excellence in Action Staff Awards dinner held at Cecilia's workplace at the Town Hall. Earlier in the year, Cecilia had been nominated for an award and I was invited to attend the dinner and to collect the award on her behalf.

The Mayor, me, Leader of the Council
Although the organisers had offered to post me the award if I should find it too upsetting to attend the ceremony, I thought it very important that I should go. In my mind by not doing so I would be de-valuing the award. And of course I was getting a free dinner which was a bonus!

I was rather nervous about going as I was dreading the question from those attending "So what award are you here for?" and then - the ultimate conversation killer - having to explain the circumstances. Fortunately, that never happened as my attendance there had been well 'managed' and I was well looked after by Cecilia's friend, Asha Gupta, at the drinks reception beforehand and then by the Town Clerk, Mr Derek Myers, and his colleagues during dinner.

The presentation of the awards began following dinner. Awards were given to those members of staff who had excelled or gone beyond the call of duty.

It was a very moving experience when I walked up on stage. Cecilia received a standing ovation as I collected her award - an engraved glass trophy - from the Mayor Cllr Andrew Dalton and the Leader of the Council Cllr Merrick Cockell (all of us pictured). The Mayor's the one with the big medallion by the way!

In the citation, prior to me going up on stage, Cecilia's contribution was described as follows:

start_quote_rbCecilia joined the Royal Borough in June 2001.

She worked as a Governance Administrator and is being awarded for the excellent support she provided over the years, beyond the call of duty. However, Cecilia is being given special recognition following her unexpected and untimely death in September this year.

She was always willing to take on new projects and put herself forward for various challenges. These included working as a staff representative for Investors in People and assisting senior managers in the Law and Administration department on the Equality Impact Assessment.

After several years working in the Cabinet Office, she moved to the Council side team servicing OSCs and other forums. She used her considerable people skills in becoming the Clerk to the K&C Panel of Lay Visitors and to the Education Appeals Panel, in which her friendly, down-to-earth style was widely appreciated.

She has been described as “a dedicated, committed and conscientious member of staff always willing to go the extra mile”. end_quote_rb