Best Village Competition 2011

Great News for Helmdon – 19 July 20119th Juoosted 19 July 2011

Helmdon has been chosen as the Northamptonshire Village of the Year for 2011. This prestigious award was presented to the Chairman of Helmdon Parish Council, Peter Burns, in a ceremony in Northamptonshire on the 19th July 2011.

John Coatsworth (left) with the Medium Village trophy and
Peter Burns (right) with the Northamptonshire Village of the Year trophy.

Helmdon beat off very strong competition from many other villages in the whole County of Northamptonshire. Any village in Northamptonshire can take part and there are various categories that entrants are judged on (Small, Medium, Large, & Newcomer to the competition).

The competition is not about picture – postcard villages, but is about people, community spirit and the village life residents generate. Helmdon also won the Medium Village category, with Silverstone winning the Large Village category, Gayton the Small Village category, and Roade the best Newcomer village category. The Village of the Year competition is sponsored by B Hollowell & Son Funeral Plans, and is organised locally by Northamptonshire ACRE (Action with Communities in Rural England).

Helmdon has been also been successful in the past, picking up the County award in 1996, 1999, & 2002. The village is vibrant, thriving and has something for everyone. There is tremendous enthusiasm from the organisers of the many and varied regular activities and special events, but there is also a great sense of team spirit. The villagers take great pride in the appearance of their village, but it is the active involvement of the community that makes Helmdon village such a success. Residents are given their say in any plans to improve life in the village, and it is quite incredible how much goes on in a relatively small village. It is the sense of community and participation that makes Helmdon such a great place to live, and this caught the judges’ eyes this year.

This is the village’s award, won by all the residents of Helmdon and everyone should be proud of their achievement.

Peter Burns along with John Coatsworth was presented with the Trophy as County overall winner, and special thanks goes to John Coatsworth who headed our application and led the interview session.

David Powell
ACRE Trustee

Links In This Section:
• Village Of The Year Competition 2010
• Northamptonshire ACRE